Wouldn’t It Be Great If Republicans Believed In Competition?
Tesla makes electric cars. They also sell cars directly to consumers rather than through dealerships. The Republican legislature in North Carolina is not happy.
From the state that brought you the nation’s first ban on climate science comes another legislative gem: a bill that would prohibit automakers from selling their cars in the state.
The proposal, which the Raleigh News & Observer reports was unanimously approved by the state’s Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, would apply to all car manufacturers, but the intended target is clear. It’s aimed at Tesla, the only U.S. automaker whose business model relies on selling cars directly to consumers, rather than through a network of third-party dealerships.
The author of the article believes this is the product of lobbying by the local automobile dealers association. I tend to think climate politics plays a role. In any case, where are the Republicans who believe in free enterprise and fair competition standing up against this bill?
Copyright 2013 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.