# Kudos to Obama for Regulatory Review **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 18, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099 "2011-01-18T18:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/1 "2011-01-18T18:50:49Z")
I’ve been saying on this board for two years that one of the easiest ‘stimulus’ plans would be a review of existing regulations, with an eye towards getting rid of the ones that have the worst cost-benefit ratios. In an era where the government is running out of the ability to borrow money and have it be an effective stimulus, a regulatory review seemed like a no-brainer - it cuts the cost of government, and also stimulates the private economy. Well, it seems like President Obama agrees. He has just ordered a [government-wide review of all regulations](http://www.cnbc.com/id/41131176): > [@](#): > > President Barack Obama Tuesday ordered a government-wide review of regulations with the goal of eliminating those that hurt job creation and make the U.S. economy less competitive. Obama took action after unveiling his plan in an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal in which he said some rules have placed “unreasonable burdens on business — burdens that have stifled innovation and have had a chilling effect on growth and jobs.” > > The executive order marked Obama’s latest move to repair relations with U.S. business, which were frayed amid bitter debate over his overhauls of Wall Street regulations and healthcare that some business leaders said would stymie corporate America. It remains to be seen if he follows through by signing some actual deregulation bills that might come across his desk, or whether this is just posturing to improve his image. I sure hope he follows through, and that Congress comes up with meaningful reform, because this is just good economics and good politics Here’s Obama’s Op-Ed: [Toward a 21st-Century Regulatory System](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703396604576088272112103698.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop). What do the rest of you think about this? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/2 "2011-01-18T18:59:56Z")
Outstanding. A truly appropriate and long overdue first step. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/3 "2011-01-18T19:00:35Z")
Indeed - good for him, and better the more he follows thru. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/4 "2011-01-18T19:02:01Z")
I also think it’s a long-overdue first step, and I cannot wait to see the Foxspin on it. ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/5 "2011-01-18T19:24:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I also think it’s a long-overdue first step, and I cannot wait to see the Foxspin on it. Well - so far, they’re crediting Republicans with the idea. [Taking a page from the GOP Playbook](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/obama-announces-review-federal-regulations/) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/6 "2011-01-18T19:29:11Z")
I think we will see conservatives disappointed when he doesn’t gut the Clean Air Act, or defang OSHA, and they will use that to brand him as a liar and a hypocrite. “See, Obama is all talk!” Just you wait. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/7 "2011-01-18T19:34:39Z")
[http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/its\_a\_trap.jpg&imgrefurl=http://imagemacros.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/its-a-trap/&h=374&w=288&sz=32&tbnid=hKnVam08j2qylM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dit%2527s%2Ba%2Btrap&zoom=1&q=it's+a+trap&usg=\_\_oY0xmhArTAm-YM5z-7hsWxfT2sY=&sa=X&ei=Ees1TbrKB4P\_8AaP1L3aCA&ved=0CCkQ9QEwAg](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/its_a_trap.jpg&imgrefurl=http://imagemacros.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/its-a-trap/&h=374&w=288&sz=32&tbnid=hKnVam08j2qylM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dit%2527s%2Ba%2Btrap&zoom=1&q=it%27s+a+trap&usg=__oY0xmhArTAm-YM5z-7hsWxfT2sY=&sa=X&ei=Ees1TbrKB4P_8AaP1L3aCA&ved=0CCkQ9QEwAg) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/8 "2011-01-18T19:39:17Z")
> [@Kiber](#): > > Well - so far, they’re crediting Republicans with the idea. > > [Taking a page from the GOP Playbook](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/obama-announces-review-federal-regulations/) And if that don’t fly, then it’s time for “Cloward-Piven!” ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/9 "2011-01-18T19:49:31Z")
Well, the devil is in the details. How do you quantify, say, a given financial regulation on a cost-benefit ratio? Financial regulations were eased and we ultimately got a global market crash. Or how do you quantify regulations on blowout preventers when drilling an oil well? Some regulation industry likes. Investment firms on Wall Street may like regulations that prevent (say) banks from offering the same product. Banks of course would want the regulation gone. Who is right? I have no doubt there are a lot of dumb regulations on the books and going for the low hanging fruit makes sense but I am not sure how much that would save overall. Further, streamlining the regulations so, while achieving the same overall goal, they no longer fill volumes would be a good thing. I think this is more a “feel good” thing than something that will produce decent results. Guess I will have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/10 "2011-01-18T20:02:06Z")
No regulation is dumb to those who had it inserted into the books-almost _any_ change will be blocked. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/11 "2011-01-18T20:03:50Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > It remains to be seen if he follows through by signing some actual deregulation bills that might come across his desk, or whether this is just posturing to improve his image. I sure hope he follows through, and that Congress comes up with meaningful reform, because this is just good economics and good politics Yes, hopefully this produces some results. Streamlining should always be a goal of good government. Any idea on how much Obama actually controls (vs being dependent on getting something through Congress, I suppose)? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/12 "2011-01-18T21:08:38Z")
> [@Kiber](#): > > Well - so far, they’re crediting Republicans with the idea. > > [Taking a page from the GOP Playbook](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/obama-announces-review-federal-regulations/) If it really was a page from the GOP Playbook as Fox would suggest, why did the GOP never run the play themselves for years on end? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/13 "2011-01-18T21:15:07Z")
Just because some regulations have a bad cost-benefit ratio doesn’t mean they are bad regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/14 "2011-01-18T21:29:19Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I’ve been saying on this board for two years that one of the easiest ‘stimulus’ plans would be a review of existing regulations, with an eye towards getting rid of the ones that have the worst cost-benefit ratios. In an era where the government is running out of the ability to borrow money and have it be an effective stimulus, a regulatory review seemed like a no-brainer - it cuts the cost of government, and also stimulates the private economy. > > Well, it seems like President Obama agrees. He has just ordered a [government-wide review of all regulations](http://www.cnbc.com/id/41131176): > > It remains to be seen if he follows through by signing some actual deregulation bills that might come across his desk, or whether this is just posturing to improve his image. I sure hope he follows through, and that Congress comes up with meaningful reform, because this is just good economics and good politics > > Here’s Obama’s Op-Ed: [Toward a 21st-Century Regulatory System](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703396604576088272112103698.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop). > > What do the rest of you think about this? Does he give any examples of this low hanging regulatory fruit? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/15 "2011-01-18T21:55:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No regulation is dumb to those who had it inserted into the books-almost _any_ change will be blocked. Yep. Color me cynical, but I’ll wait to applaud until after we see some regulations eliminated that save a significant amount of money. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/16 "2011-01-18T22:21:57Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Does he give any examples of this low hanging regulatory fruit? The storage requirements for saccharine, IIRC. The hard part is not going to be the low-hanging fruit, but the expensive regulations. Some of the big corporations will resist this - they have already incurred the cost of implementing the regulations, and don’t want any johnny-come-latelys to start up without it. Wait until Obama suggests revoking some environmental regulation, or something about nuclear power. I hope he can bring it off. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/17 "2011-01-18T22:30:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Wait until Obama suggests revoking some environmental regulation, or something about nuclear power. What would you say if he specifically said those were off the table? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/18 "2011-01-18T22:49:18Z")
That he had made a bad decision. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/19 "2011-01-18T22:56:55Z")
I’d like us to be able to move forward on nuclear power but I’d probably be against removing most non-nuclear related enviro regulations. It seems that the last 40 years have seen an improvement in the US environment. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099/20 "2011-01-18T23:41:58Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The storage requirements for saccharine, IIRC. No idea what those regs are but FWIW sometimes things you would not expect can be dangerous. To wit the [Imperial Sugar Refinery explosion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Georgia_sugar_refinery_explosion). Even a week after the initial explosion they had trouble extinguishing the molten sugar. Just saying unlikely things can be dangerous in the right circumstances. Whether Saccharine is one I have no idea. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos-to-obama-for-regulatory-review/568099.md?page=2)