Almost Right on Oil Subsidies

MoveOn.org almost gets it right. Their gripe is that the oil companies are getting subsidies because they gave Senators "dirty money." Now I know this is a propaganda poster, but what is "dirty money?" Are they talking about legal campaign contributions? Or is this straight up back room suitcases of money that you hide in your freezer?

Campaign contributions. Yes. Campaign contributions are now "dirty money" as 350.org describes it and made this graphic.

So how did MoveOn.org and 350.org almost get it right?

Subsidies. We need to stop giving oil companies subsidies. But that is only partially correct. We need to stop giving ALL companies subsidies.

How they get it wrong is their motivation. They are just against using fossil fuels. How do they feel about renewable energy subsidies?

Subsidies need to stop for ALL companies and industries. It is not up to the government to decide what companies succeed by giving them money. That is up to the consumers with their purchasing power.

In relation to subsidies are niche taxes : gas taxes, phone taxes, tobacco taxes, et cetera. Those punish a product. That is not for the government to decide either.

See what I did there?

The government gives oil companies subsidies. Then a special gas tax is paid at the pump. What!? Really!? How much money is lost in administrative costs distributing the money and collecting the taxes. How much money is spent on accountants to track this? ( Nothing against accountants. I just think this is an absurd reason to NEED an accountant. )

In case you are curious, here is a break down of where your money at the pump goes according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.