Jerry Brown: ‘Never underestimate the coercive power of the central state’
10th December 2015
One of the goals of Californians who traveled to Paris for climate talks this week was to showcase green-energy businesses that are succeeding in the state.
But on Monday it was the “coercive power” of government for which Gov. Jerry Brown was seeking credit.
Regulations, he said at an event with billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer at an art museum in the city, “work hand in glove” with innovation, forcing companies to adapt to cleaner technologies. Brown held out the introduction of the catalytic converter and the proliferation of renewable energy as examples of industry responding to regulation.
“You do have to have, at the end of the day, a regulation, a law,” he said. “Progress comes from well-designed regulatory objectives that business then follows.”
Later, at the site where world leaders are meeting to negotiate a climate pact outside of Paris, Brown urged a small crowd to “never underestimate the coercive power of the central state in the service of good.”
“You can be sure California is going to keep innovating, keep regulating,” the Democratic governor said. “And, shall I say, keep taxing.”
And there you have it … right out of the horse’s ass mouth.
Yet another reason not to live in California.
December 12th, 2015 at 19:31
He has a point. Regulation is like a hand to innovation’s glove – the glove can do nothing unless the hand allows it.