You all might be familiar with Wisconsin. It's a state in the upper Mid-West where the governor and his cronies are trying to remake the state into a corporate playground.
I read this article at "Raw Story" a few days ago:
http://www.rawstory.com/...
Think Progress has a story too:
http://thinkprogress.org/...
It seems that the "small government" folks in Wisconsin aren't too shy about passing laws that interfere with competition when it benefits them directly.
MillerCoors is sponsoring a law (yes a private corporation is sponsoring a law) that will make it illegal for beer brewers to act as beer distributors or own restaurants.
Allegedly this is to prevent Coors' biggest competitor [AB/InBev (Anheuser-Busch)] from harming Coors' market share in Wisconsin.
Small brewers also fear that this law will add an unreasonable requirement for a middle man being inserted into the beer distribution process.
While the merits of the law are marginally debatable, (Budweiser arguably should not have a monopoly on beer distribution) there is no question that this law demonstrates that the alleged small government businesses and politicians are hypocritical liars.
(more on the flip side)
I firmly believe that government should regulate these kinds of transactions. The reason we have government is to work out disputes between citizens and businesses, and to create a level playing field.
The problem here is that the people involved in passing the measure do not agree with me on that point.
[Digressing a bit here: In an ideal state, small domestic breweries would be allowed to distribute, serve and sell beer directly to the public up to a certain volume per year. Let's say 50,000 gallons or so. (I made up that number, but the idea is to distinguish from people selling mass quantities of beer vs people selling small volumes)]
Scott Walker is the current governor of Wisconsin. Here's what he has to say about government:
Smaller government is better government.
http://www.scottwalker.org/...
Walker claims to be a proponent of "free enterprise." He has associated himself with organizations that claim to do the same.
http://www.thefreeenterprisenation.org/...
Pete Coors the grandson of the founder of Coors Brewery in Colorado ran for the Senate in Colorado in 2004 against Ken Salazar. (our current Secretary of the Interior)
Coors ran a very expensive campaign on a platform of small taxes and small government.
Pete Coors is currently the Chairman of the Molson Coors Brewing Company and Chairman of MillerCoors.
Pete Coors ran on a platform of small government.
The companies that Pete Coors runs are pushing a law that will specifically target one industry, and will cause the government of Wisconsin to be involved in the business practices of private corporations.
Is that small government?
No. That's reasonable government regulation, or it's corporate interests using the government to overreach and drive small competitors out of business. It is not small government.
How does one suppose that MillerCoors will see that the other brewers abide by the law? Where does one suppose disputes under the law will be settled? They will be settled in court. MillerCoors will make use of the free legal system in the United States, that will be there at our expense to make sure the law is enforced. Wisconsinites pay for the courts. Wisconsinites pay for the bailiffs, court reporters, and the judges. Court is held in publicly owned, and maintained buildings. We have the most remarkable court system in the world, specifically because is funded by the public.
I don't see MillerCoors saying that there should be fewer civil courts, when it comes time to protect their bottom line.
The blatant hypocrisy of the anti-government crowd is laid bare here.
This is just one example of how corporations use our government to work for them, and them alone. Every state has laws that were tailor made to meet the needs of one business, and often prevent another business from getting foothold in that state.
So, when you hear 'small government' from a conservative think; "bull shit."