Motley Crue

Motley Crue has been through a lot over the years.  They've survived their bass player's heroin addiction.  They survived their lead singer's drunken vehicular manslaughter.  They survived their gutair player's battle with ankylosing spondylitis.  They even survived Pamela's false domestic abuse accusations.  The one thing Motley Crue might not survive is President Obama's environmental policies.

For those of you unaware: the typical Crue show includes lots of flashy pyrotechnics.  To say that Crue shows have a heavy carbon footprint is the understatement of the century.  How would cap and trade impact them?

Microeconomics 101 Suggests two possibilities:

1) Crue shows become more expensive.  Under a cap and trade regime - between the pyrotechnics, the giant Marshall stacks, and the private plane travel between gigs - the Crue would be over any CAP that government busybodies might assign them.  That will, of course, force them to TRADE for the right to emit more carbon.  In order to trade for the carbon, they'll have to PAY MONEY. 

How will they make up for the money they have to pay?  They'll RAISE PRICES on tickets and merch.  By definition, higher prices mean fewer people will pay to see them.  In a worst-case scenario, the Crue could decide that touring is prohibitively expensive and stay home and bang strippers instead.

2) Crue shows are less cool.  Instead of paying for the "right" to emit carbon, they might cut back on pyrotechnics and Marshall stacks.  By definition, this is an INFERIOR product.  Marginal Crue fans (unlike me) might decide that Crue shows aren't worth it anymore and they might spend their scarce entertaiment dollars elsewhere.

Ultimately, no matter what happens, the Crue will be fine.  They've already made their money and they can probably afford to live out the rest of their days even if they never earn another cent.  The people who this will really hurt will be the massive support staff you need to pull off a tour of any magnitude.

While you may not care about the Crue per se, this vignette epitomizes perfectly the fundamental assault on personal freedom that is cap and trade.  The Crue's decision about what sort of live performace (if any) to put on will not be based on the economics of what the fans want (hint: BIG explosions) against the budget constraint of the band.  Instead, the Crue's decision will be based on what some busybody at the EPA thinks is best for all of us.  That's not America; that's France.

I hope this helps.

That is all.

Cahnman out.

Having quoted Rush earlier today, I can't help coming up with my own self-indulgent 35 undeniable truths of life:

1) The New York Yankees represent everything that is right with America.

2) The Chicago Cubs represent everything that is wrong with America.

3) The Greatest Threat to World Peace comes not from a strong America, but from a weak America.

4) The only way to acheive real Peace is by having superior firepower vis a vis our enemies.

5) Conservatives revere the United States Military.  Liberals are, at best, ambivalent.  At worst, liberals express outright contempt for the U.S. Military.

6) Karl Rove was right: After 9/11, liberals offered therapy to our enemies; conservatives prepared for war.

7) The Prision at Guantanamo Bay has (quite literally) saved American Lives.

8) Liberals are more concerned with conferring rights upon terrorists and criminals than with protecting decent people.

9) Over the Long Run, dictatorships kill far more people than the wars that end dictatorships .

10) Iraq proves undeniable truth # 9.

11) Since 2003, more people have been killed in Iran, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Burma than have been killed in Iraq.

12) There are only two ways to end wars: Victory or Defeat.

13) The Man who threw his shoe at George W. Bush would never have done that to Saddam Hussein.

14) Persons who whine about alleged U.S. torture have no idea what real torture is.  Such persons will whine about anything the U.S. Miltary does to give meaning to their insignificant lives.  They are best ignored.

15) Israelis are morally superior to Palestians. 

16) Palestinians cannot be trusted until they suffer overwhelming military defeat.

17) Free-Market Capitalism is the best, and only, path to prosperity.

18) The American Consumer is the greatest force for good in human history.  The American Military is second.

19) Free Trade creates jobs and prevents wars.

20) Taxes are not too low; government spending is too high.

21) When Investment Tax Rates are lowered, the government collects more tax revenue.

22) Joe the Plumber knows more about economics than President Obama.

23) Paul Krugman is a pathological liar.

24) When politicians talk about "investments," they're coming for your wallet.

25) Targeted Tax Cuts are a euphemism for welfare.

26) Reprductive Freedom is a euphemism for murder.

27) Medicare Part D is the model for all future entitlement reform.

28) Californians ruined California.

29) Rudy Giuliani personally saved New York City.

30) Motley Crue is the Greatest Band of All Time.

31) Dave Matthews sucks.  If you listen to Dave Matthews, you suck.

32) See undeniable truth #31; ditto Jack Johnson, John Mayer, The Killers, or Fallout Boy.

33) Instant Replay is Good for the NFL; Major League Baseball should incorporate it.

34) Any country that allows fans of the New York Mets to marry already practices Gay Marriage.

35) Liberals want to make America more like Cuba.  Their reason for wanting this will always baffle me.