Free Market Hypocrites

Here's today's provocative question from professor Hightower: Why do so many giant corporations hate the marketplace?

Yes, hate. Oh, sure, CEOs loudly proclaim themselves to be free market worshippers, and they piously preach against the cardinal sin of government interference in the awesome workings of the holy marketplace. But after church, these corporate executives slink into the back alleys of devilish government to procure subsidies, regulations and other favors to satisfy their profit lust.

Take the case of Monsanto Inc., which makes a product known as BGH, which forces cows to produce more milk. Aside from the damage this does to cows, BGH is essentially an artificial sex hormone that is passed through the cow's milk to people who drink it.

Guess what? Consumers -- especially mothers -- do not want their families drinking sex hormones. There has been such a consumer outcry against BGH milk that numerous dairies and supermarkets now offer milk that's labeled as being free of artificial growth hormones so consumers can have a clear choice. Splendid! That's the free market at work, right?

Right, but Monsanto hates it. We must have new government regulations to outlaw these additive-free labels, cries Monsanto, because they mislead consumers into thinking there's something wrong with sexed-up milk. So lobbyists for Monsanto and its BGH users have been swarming state governments, demanding that regulators interfere in the sacred marketplace. Our competitors must not be allowed to tell shoppers what's not in their milk, wail these lobbyists, for this information "confuses" consumers.

The confused ones are the corporations -- confused on the concept of the free market. If they're so proud of BGH milk, they should have their own labels declaring: "Mmmm, yummy! Milk with artificial sex hormones added!"

Taking Care Of The Smithsonian

Our national attic is caving in.

"America's attic" is the unofficial name of the venerable Smithsonian Institution. This is the 150-year-old complex of museums on the National Mall that houses an amazing array of artifacts and other irreplaceable treasures that mark significant developments in our country's rich history. It's a priceless cultural jewel that is a favorite draw for families visiting our capital city -- 24 million people trekked through this year.

You might assume a place that's so important to our national identity and so popular with the people would be well taken care of. You'd be wrong. The president and the Congress, Democrats as well as Republicans, have failed us as caretakers. They have squandered hundreds of billions of our tax dollars on wars, weaponry, corporate subsidies and boondoggles -- while turning a blind eye to the rising need of basic maintenance on America's attic.

As any homeowner knows, the failure to spend on repairs inevitably results in things like collapsing roofs, endangered collections and closed buildings. The Smithsonian is now $2.5 billion behind on necessary upkeep.

Yet, our so-called leaders are still turning their backs on this remarkable institution. Democrat Dianne Feinstein told Smithsonian officials at a recent Senate hearing that they're on their own; "I see no way that that two-and-a-half-billion-dollar shortfall is ever going to be picked up by the public sector," she said.

Excuse me? The Smithsonian is the public sector, it belongs to the people, and it's a public responsibility. Instead of forcing it to charge entrance fees, hustle corporate sponsorships or hold bake sales, cut a few corporate subsidies, Senator, then do your duty to care of America's attic.

To find out more about Jim Hightower, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.
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