This past Saturday at CPAC, I had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking panel discussion on "Bidenomics and Regulation," which brought together a distinguished group of experts to dissect the intricacies and implications of the current administration's economic and regulatory policies. The panel featured Doug Collins, former member of Congress and host of the Doug Collins Podcast; Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission; Stephen Moore, co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and former senior economics advisor to President Trump
A Critical Examination of Bidenomics
The discussion opened with an exploration of the Biden administration's regulatory approach, particularly its "whole of government" strategy. This method has seen regulatory actions not just from the expected agencies but across the breadth of government, impacting sectors from healthcare to technology. Panelists raised concerns about the implications of such a wide-reaching approach to regulation.
Doug Collins offered a pointed critique, stating, "When you get into the issue of march in and that sounds like they're doing some kind of military thing. This isn't march in. What this is literally is marching in to where they have people who have taken government funds to find new and innovative solutions across the spectrum of products in which they come to our markets. What they're wanting to do, though, is if you've taken government money, the government wants to come in and then take your patent, take your intellectual property, and then they can do whatever they want to with it. This will send us back to pre-1980 Ronald Reagan. How many of you want to take a trip back to Jimmy Carter days? Is there anybody in the place longing for that? No, nobody wants to." This sentiment underscored the panel's apprehension about the administration's direction, emphasizing the potential for overreach and the stifling of entrepreneurial spirit.
Digital Equity, Net Neutrality, and Free Speech
Brendan Carr's insights brought the conversation to the digital realm, focusing on issues of digital equity, net neutrality, and the broader implications for free speech and censorship. Carr highlighted recent initiatives by the Biden administration that seemed to prioritize control over digital spaces, expressing concerns over attempts to regulate the internet under the guise of net neutrality, which could have chilling effects on free speech and innovation.
He further criticized the administration's policies, noting:
"Just this week at the FCC, we voted to require all broadcasters to publicly post race and gender scorecard that lists the demographics of all their employees. Why? Because activist organizations want to use that information to pressure businesses into hiring people, or not, based on their race and their gender. So what's going on here? These aren't isolated pinpricks. It goes back to a lot of causes, but one main one. This extreme version of identity politics and everything else is downstream. Once you divide America into oppressor groups and oppressed, then of course we can take the rights away from the oppressor groups. Of course, they don't need the First Amendment. But that's just the beginning. Free speech is the counterweight to government control. And there's a straight line from the ballot box to the soapbox. As soon as they say we don't trust you with what to say, they move very quickly into we don't trust you in terms of who you get to vote for."
Economic Consequences and Regulatory Costs
Stephen Moore shifted the dialogue to the macroeconomic effects of regulatory policies, discussing how the administration's approach could influence the broader economy. Moore emphasized the costs associated with regulatory compliance, arguing, "you asked about the impact of Biden's regulations. So just to put it in terms that people can understand, under Barack Obama, who was the second worst president in the last 50 years, Joe Biden is the worst president of the last 50 years. Under Obama, the average family saw their cost rise by $5,000 per family because of regulation. Under Donald Trump - are you ready for this? - the average regulatory cost per family fell by $3,000 per family. And under Biden, it's been raised by another $6,000. So regulation is an attack on the American economy."
He warned of the long-term implications warning that the US is at a tipping point where the cumulative burden of regulation threatens to undermine the very foundations of our free-market economy, eroding the principles of competition and entrepreneurship that have driven American prosperity.
A Unified Call for Action
Throughout the panel, a common theme emerged: a call for a return to policies that promote free enterprise, safeguard individual rights, and encourage innovation without excessive government intervention. The experts expressed a shared concern that the current trajectory of Bidenomics and regulatory expansion presents significant challenges that demand immediate attention from policymakers, industry leaders, and the public.
In closing, the panelists underscored the importance of engaging in informed debate and advocacy to counter the trends they identified. This is not just about policy disagreements. It's about the fundamental principles that govern our society. We must be vigilant in defending the freedoms that define us.
Looking Ahead
The CPAC panel on Bidenomics and Regulation offered a crucial examination of the current administration's economic and regulatory strategies, highlighting concerns about overreach, the impact on innovation and free speech, and the potential for adverse economic consequences. The insights shared by the panelists serve as a call to action for all who value the principles of freedom and enterprise.
As we move forward, it is imperative that we continue the conversation, critically assessing the implications of governmental policies and advocating for a regulatory environment that fosters growth, innovation, and freedom. Only through informed debate and concerted action can we ensure that our economic and regulatory policies reflect the values that have made the United States a beacon of prosperity and liberty.
The panel at CPAC has laid the groundwork for ongoing discussions about the direction of our economy and regulatory framework. By drawing on the expertise and insights of leaders like Doug Collins, Brendan Carr, and Stephen Moore, we can better understand the challenges ahead and work towards solutions that preserve the principles of freedom and prosperity for future generations.
