Strike The Root

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

  Federal Register Watch

by Mike Powers

January 6 - 10, 2003

 What freedoms have you lost this week?

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.  This column attempts to summarize the highlights (or lowlights) of the Federal Register during the preceding week.  

Instructions for subscribing to the Federal Register can be found at the end of the column.

JANUARY 6, 2003 :

Food Safety and Inspection Service – Ruling to Determine the Definition of the Word “Healthy”

This ruling extends until January 1, 2006 the requirement that any meat or poultry products bearing the term “healthy” contain no more than 360 mg of sodium.  Apparently, the bureaucrats think that American consumers are too dumb to decide for themselves what is healthy and what is not.  

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/02-33150.htm  

Department of Housing and Urban Development – Participation in HUD Programs by Faith-Based Organizations

This ruling determines that faith-based organizations should be able to compete on an equal footing with other organizations for HUD funding.

Thou shalt not discriminate against faith-based groups when stealing from taxpayers.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-133.htm  

JANUARY 8, 2003 :

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Prohibited Trade Practices Involving Baxter International and Wyeth Corporation

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting “unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition.”  Additionally, the agreement contains a decision and order that is designed to remedy the “anticompetitive effects” of Baxter's proposed acquisition of the generic injectable pharmaceutical business of Wyeth.  

Currently, only two companies supply propofol, an intravenous general anesthetic, to the health care industry – Baxter and AstraZeneca.  Since Wyeth is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its own propofol product, the FTC believes that the acquisition will cause “significant anticompetitive harm” in the U.S. market.  Thus, the agreement requires Baxter to divest itself of Wyeth’s propofol business to a Commission-approved buyer within 90 days of the acquisition.  

If the acquisition occurred without the divestiture, there are still two propofol manufacturers--the same two that existed prior to the buyout.  Certainly, choice is limited, but consumers still have the ability to choose between them.  Additionally, they may even opt for a different product altogether--one that is comparable to propofol (such as a non-intravenous anesthesia) and produces similar results.  

For truly anticompetitive practices, consider those facilitated by the government--including, but not limited to, public education, the Social Security retirement program, and the Post Office’s first-class mail service.  Consumers have NO alternatives but to pay for these government monopolies, even if they do not want to use them.  At least in the open market, consumers can choose NOT to pay for a good or service that they do not want or need.  This is not the case with government. 

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-309.htm

JANUARY 10, 2003 :

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – Termination of the Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information Order

This rule terminates the program designed to “provide an adequate, steady supply of cut flowers and cut greens at reasonable prices to the consumers of the United States .”  It appears that the AMS was slow to react, since the order has not been in operation since 1997!

It may be a small victory, but the termination of any government program is cause for celebration.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-453.htm

Department of the Interior - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Jamul Indian Village Casino Project

This notice concerns the Jamul Indian Village , located in eastern San Diego County , California , and their intention to file a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to build a casino and hotel on the site, in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Indian Gaming Commission.

State and federal governments determine who can and cannot operate legal, private gaming operations.  It must be great to have the ability to criminalize an activity (as the government does with gambling, in most places) while conducting your own gaming racket (state lotteries).  It’s the ultimate monopoly.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-517.htm  

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