Regulatory Czar: Cass Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein is the most-cited law professor on any faculty in the United States (and probably the world). Starting in the fall of 2008, he will be a professor at the Harvard Law School where he will direct the Program on Risk Regulation.
In the winter, he will also be Harry Kalven Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. "The preeminent legal scholar of our time - the most wide-ranging, the most prolific, the most cited, and the most influential," says Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan. As an author or co-author of more than 15 books and hundreds of academic articles, Sunstein has crossed academic borders throughout his career to offer unique insights on law, public policy, economics, and psychology.
Sunstein has also written regularly for leading newspapers and magazines, and been interviewed on all the major television networks. He taught at the University of Chicago for 27 years, worked at the Department of Justice, and clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He has worked with the national executive branch on many questions, testified before Congress on many occasions, and advised a number of countries, including China, South Africa, and Russia, on constitution-making and legal reform.
Source: http://www.nudges.org/Sunstein.cfm
Cass Sunstein is a law professo, appointed Regulatory czar in the Obama Administration. Though widely viewed as a liberal, Sunstein has taken many moderate positions in line with strict constructivism, and supported the nomination of John G. Roberts to the Supreme court. Sunstein's precise role in the administration is as yet undefined, and as a czar, he is answerable to no one except the president, acting as part of the "shadow government" identified by Glenn Beck. Sunstein has little background in regulation, and his appointment appears to have been motivated by his ties to Obama through the University of Chicago law school.
Source: http://www.conservapedia.com/Cass_R._Sunstein
Cass Sunstein For Regulation Czar
Richard L. Revesz and Michael A. Livermore, 05.12.09, 05:50 PM EDT
Neither an easy ally, nor a wilting lily.
Cass Sunstein
The painful costs of under-regulation are widely apparent: from a real estate bubble built on bad lending practices, to the looming threat of climate change. Some business leaders may not admit it, but good regulation saves society money by setting the rules of the road. Without wise regulation, economic growth too often comes with a price tag that is more than it is worth.
More than any position in government, the "Regulation Czar" is charged with balancing economic growth with social risk. To fill this position, President Obama has selected Professor Cass Sunstein, an intellectual heavyweight who is a progressive but no ideologue.
Sunstein is well known for his academic writings, which touch on everything from constitutional law to behavioral economics. His appointment to director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is a harbinger of the administration's commitments--yes, we need to grow the economy, but sound economics need not conflict with smart regulation.
On May 12, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee held a hearing on Professor Sunstein's nomination. Sunstein's comments confirm that he is neither a friend nor a foe of regulation. Instead, he discussed a new approach to cost-benefit analysis and regulation that is thoughtful, pragmatic and fair.
Sunstein's remarks made clear that for him, cost-benefit analysis is not an intellectual exercise but a means to deliver greater benefits for the American public at lower costs. It should not be used as a hammer to beat back regulation, nor should it be discarded in favor of omnipotent federal agencies. Instead it should be employed judiciously to select regulatory approaches that achieve maximum net benefits for society.
This new approach to regulation could not come at a better time. The recent fiscal meltdown clarified the degree of our interconnectedness--a loose screw on Wall Street can send homes in Arizona to the foreclosure auction blocks; a blind eye in Washington can result in a tsunami of wet coal sludge in Tennessee. We can no longer afford to pay the social cost of letting corporations "self-regulate," nor can we afford to place unnecessary burdens on already struggling businesses.
From his remarks in his committee hearing as well as from his writings, it is obvious that Sunstein is sensitive to this tightrope walk. Those in the business community looking for an easy ally are barking up the wrong tree. Those in the progressive community hoping for a wilting lily will also be sorely disappointed.
Sunstein believes in a robust regulatory state, but he also acknowledges that regulations can be more or less efficient at achieving their goals. As OIRA director, he will look for strong standards to reduce economic, environmental and public health risks. But he will also look to make sure the market is not shackled and businesses are given maximum flexibility to reduce risks at the lowest possible costs.
Once confirmed, Administrator Sunstein will have a set of sticky regulatory problems before him made stickier by an economy in the tank. We are pleased that he will be the one to reform and use cost-benefit analysis to find regulatory solutions that work for the American public.
Many changes are needed--last year we published a book full of recommendations, and in recent months OIRA has received almost 200 comments, many contradictory, for how to reform regulatory review. But if anyone stands a chance of making sense of the jumble and pulling out a sensible solution, it is Sunstein.
Perhaps he won't make close friends of those on the far left or right, but that may be the biggest measure of his success. Today it is not ideological purity that will save us, but sound judgment and a pragmatic spirit willing to take what we need from all perspectives, and leave the rest.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/12/cass-sunstein-regulation-czar-opin...
And who has Obama made his "regulatory czar"? Cass Sunstein, the Harvard professor best known for trying to change human behavior with "nudges." He calls it "libertarian paternalism; it works by limiting people's options. Others, including columnist David Broder, describe it as "help[ing] you make the choices you would make for yourself -- if only you had the strength of will and the sharpness of mind." When government does this, most of us just call it "Big Brother."
Excerpt from Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed060209c.cfm
Cass R. Sunstein is the most-cited law professor on any faculty in the United States (and probably the world). Starting in the fall of 2008, he will be a professor at the Harvard Law School where he will direct the Program on Risk Regulation.
In the winter, he will also be Harry Kalven Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. "The preeminent legal scholar of our time - the most wide-ranging, the most prolific, the most cited, and the most influential," says Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan. As an author or co-author of more than 15 books and hundreds of academic articles, Sunstein has crossed academic borders throughout his career to offer unique insights on law, public policy, economics, and psychology.
Sunstein has also written regularly for leading newspapers and magazines, and been interviewed on all the major television networks. He taught at the University of Chicago for 27 years, worked at the Department of Justice, and clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He has worked with the national executive branch on many questions, testified before Congress on many occasions, and advised a number of countries, including China, South Africa, and Russia, on constitution-making and legal reform.
Source: http://www.nudges.org/Sunstein.cfm
Cass Sunstein is a law professo, appointed Regulatory czar in the Obama Administration. Though widely viewed as a liberal, Sunstein has taken many moderate positions in line with strict constructivism, and supported the nomination of John G. Roberts to the Supreme court. Sunstein's precise role in the administration is as yet undefined, and as a czar, he is answerable to no one except the president, acting as part of the "shadow government" identified by Glenn Beck. Sunstein has little background in regulation, and his appointment appears to have been motivated by his ties to Obama through the University of Chicago law school.
Source: http://www.conservapedia.com/Cass_R._Sunstein
Cass Sunstein For Regulation Czar
Richard L. Revesz and Michael A. Livermore, 05.12.09, 05:50 PM EDT
Neither an easy ally, nor a wilting lily.
Cass Sunstein
The painful costs of under-regulation are widely apparent: from a real estate bubble built on bad lending practices, to the looming threat of climate change. Some business leaders may not admit it, but good regulation saves society money by setting the rules of the road. Without wise regulation, economic growth too often comes with a price tag that is more than it is worth.
More than any position in government, the "Regulation Czar" is charged with balancing economic growth with social risk. To fill this position, President Obama has selected Professor Cass Sunstein, an intellectual heavyweight who is a progressive but no ideologue.
Sunstein is well known for his academic writings, which touch on everything from constitutional law to behavioral economics. His appointment to director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is a harbinger of the administration's commitments--yes, we need to grow the economy, but sound economics need not conflict with smart regulation.
On May 12, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee held a hearing on Professor Sunstein's nomination. Sunstein's comments confirm that he is neither a friend nor a foe of regulation. Instead, he discussed a new approach to cost-benefit analysis and regulation that is thoughtful, pragmatic and fair.
Sunstein's remarks made clear that for him, cost-benefit analysis is not an intellectual exercise but a means to deliver greater benefits for the American public at lower costs. It should not be used as a hammer to beat back regulation, nor should it be discarded in favor of omnipotent federal agencies. Instead it should be employed judiciously to select regulatory approaches that achieve maximum net benefits for society.
This new approach to regulation could not come at a better time. The recent fiscal meltdown clarified the degree of our interconnectedness--a loose screw on Wall Street can send homes in Arizona to the foreclosure auction blocks; a blind eye in Washington can result in a tsunami of wet coal sludge in Tennessee. We can no longer afford to pay the social cost of letting corporations "self-regulate," nor can we afford to place unnecessary burdens on already struggling businesses.
From his remarks in his committee hearing as well as from his writings, it is obvious that Sunstein is sensitive to this tightrope walk. Those in the business community looking for an easy ally are barking up the wrong tree. Those in the progressive community hoping for a wilting lily will also be sorely disappointed.
Sunstein believes in a robust regulatory state, but he also acknowledges that regulations can be more or less efficient at achieving their goals. As OIRA director, he will look for strong standards to reduce economic, environmental and public health risks. But he will also look to make sure the market is not shackled and businesses are given maximum flexibility to reduce risks at the lowest possible costs.
Once confirmed, Administrator Sunstein will have a set of sticky regulatory problems before him made stickier by an economy in the tank. We are pleased that he will be the one to reform and use cost-benefit analysis to find regulatory solutions that work for the American public.
Many changes are needed--last year we published a book full of recommendations, and in recent months OIRA has received almost 200 comments, many contradictory, for how to reform regulatory review. But if anyone stands a chance of making sense of the jumble and pulling out a sensible solution, it is Sunstein.
Perhaps he won't make close friends of those on the far left or right, but that may be the biggest measure of his success. Today it is not ideological purity that will save us, but sound judgment and a pragmatic spirit willing to take what we need from all perspectives, and leave the rest.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/12/cass-sunstein-regulation-czar-opin...
And who has Obama made his "regulatory czar"? Cass Sunstein, the Harvard professor best known for trying to change human behavior with "nudges." He calls it "libertarian paternalism; it works by limiting people's options. Others, including columnist David Broder, describe it as "help[ing] you make the choices you would make for yourself -- if only you had the strength of will and the sharpness of mind." When government does this, most of us just call it "Big Brother."
Excerpt from Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed060209c.cfm
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by David Harkins on -
Cass Sunstein - "Climate Change" and "The Laws of Fear"
http://bit.ly/deJeK
Cass Sunstein - Rationing of Healthcare
http://bit.ly/b9CfT
Cass Sunstein - and his disagreement with the U.S. Constitution
http://bit.ly/hNFGy
-
Permalink Reply by Cheryl Bowman on -
I don't know if this guy would be the one to regulate the internet, but according to Newsmax, "Obama's FTC Moves to Regulate Bloggers.
The Federal Trade Commission took steps on Monday to make product information and online reviews more accurate for consumers, regulating blogging for the first time, and mandating that testimonials reflect typical results."
It would appear that much of this is for the purpose of consumer testimonials, but ... the proverbial camel's nose is under the tent!
-
Permalink Reply by Cheryl Bowman on
-
More on Cass Sunstein. Per WorldNetDaily today, this helpful man who thinks we're too stupid to make up our own minds on issues, now calls us racist if we believe in self-determination and responsibility rather than generational welfare.
Quoting the article (which paraphrases his own words): The U.S. should move in the direction of socialism but the country's "white majority" opposes welfare since such programs largely would benefit minorities, especially blacks and Hispanics, argued President Obama's newly confirmed regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=112243
-
Permalink Reply by WisconsinLady on -
CZAR WARS
Sunstein: Take organs from 'helpless patients'
'Though it may sound grotesque, routine removal would save lives'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 12, 2009
9:34 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
Cass Sunstein
TEL AVIV – President Obama's newly confirmed regulatory czar defended the possibility of removing organs from terminally ill patients without their permission.
Cass Sunstein also has strongly pushed for the removal of organs from deceased individuals who did not explicitly consent to becoming organ donors.
In his 2008 book, "Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness," Sunstein and co-author Richard Thaler discussed multiple legal scenarios regarding organ donation. One possibility presented in the book, termed by Sunstein as "routine removal," posits that "the state owns the rights to body parts of people who are dead or in certain hopeless conditions, and it can remove their organs without asking anyone's permission."
"Though it may sound grotesque, routine removal is not impossible to defend," wrote Sunstein. "In theory, it would save lives, and it would do so without intruding on anyone who has any prospect for life."
Sunstein continued: "Although this approach is not used comprehensively by any state, many states do use the rule for corneas (which can be transplanted to give some blind patients sight). In some states, medical examiners performing autopsies are permitted to remove corneas without asking anyone's permission."
Sunstein's example of medical examiners removing corneas, however, applies only to patients who are already declared deceased.
After defending the position, Sunstein conceded the "routine removal" approach "violates a generally accepted principle, which is that within broad limits, individuals should be able to decide what is to be done with and to their bodies."
Still, Sunstein did not add that the removal of organs from a living individual should be banned.
Also in the same book, CNS News previously noted Sunstein argued for removing organs from deceased patients who are not registered as organ donors, a policy not without precedent. Spain and some European Union countries have been debating accepting a law of implied consent.
Writes Sunstein: "A policy that can pass libertarian muster by our standards is called presumed consent."
"Presumed consent preserves freedom of choice, but it is different from explicit consent because it shifts the default rule. Under this policy, all citizens would be presumed to be consenting donors, but they would have the opportunity to register their unwillingness to donate, and they could do so easily. We want to underline the word easily, because the harder it is to register your unwillingness to participate, the less libertarian the policy becomes."
Sunstein continues: "Although presumed consent is an extremely effective way to increase the supply of organs available for transplant, it may not be an easy sell politically. Some will object to the idea of 'presuming' anything when it comes to such a sensitive matter. We are not sure that these objections are convincing, but this is surely a domain in which forced choosing, or what is referred to in this domain as mandated choice, has considerable appeal."
Sunstein advocates making it mandatory for all citizens to register either as an organ donor or as unwilling to donate their organs.
"Mandated choice could be implemented through a simple addition to the driver's license registration scheme used in many states. With mandated choice, renewal of your driver's license would be accompanied by a requirement that you check a box stating your organ donation preferences. Your application would not be accepted unless you had checked one of the boxes. The options might include 'yes, willing to donate' and 'no, unwilling to donate.'"
Government must fund abortion
Sunstein is not shy about his view concerning rights to life or abortion.
WND reported that in his 1993 book, "The Partial Constitution," Sunstein argued the government should be required to fund abortion in cases such as rape or incest.
"I have argued that the Constitution ... forbids government from refusing to pay the expenses of abortion in cases of rape or incest, at least if government pays for childbirth in such cases," Sunstein wrote.
The Obama czar asserts that funding only childbirth but not abortion "has the precise consequence of turning women into involuntary incubators."
Sunstein argues that refusing to fund abortion "would require poor women to be breeders," while co-opting women's bodies "in the service of third parties" – referring to fetuses.
Sunstein wrote he has no problem with forcing taxpayers to fund abortions even if they morally object to their money being used for such a purpose.
He wrote: "There would be no tension with the establishment clause if people with religious or other objections were forced to pay for that procedure (abortion). Indeed, taxpayers are often forced to pay for things – national defense, welfare, certain forms of art, and others – to which they have powerful moral and even religious objections."
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=112757
-
Permalink Reply by M.Marge on -
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=113802
Sunstein urges: Abolish marriage
Adviser compares institution to country club membership
New Podcast 3/10/10
Haiti Disaster Relief
Click HereFollow us on Twitter!
Follow Us on Facebook
Discussion Forum
Meetings Discussed Here 2 Replies
Started by Earl Gardner. Last reply by Dan Griffin Sr Jan 27.
food for thought 1 Reply
Started by Rollin Shultz. Last reply by patrick nocera Aug. 13, 2009.
Growing Our District....Ideas
Started by Earl Gardner Mar. 22, 2009.
ACTION ALERTS!
Started by Earl Gardner Mar. 22, 2009.
Place info on any bill or current legislation here.
Started by Earl Gardner Mar. 22, 2009.
Blog Posts
OP STOP TYRANNY - SPECIAL TWEET LIST FOR MEDIA!!
Posted by Sam Adams on March 18, 2010 at 10:30am
Mexico's Immigration Laws.
Posted by TV in Phoenix on March 18, 2010 at 10:24am — 1 Comment
Soon,very soon!
Posted by greg wood on March 18, 2010 at 10:20am
The Deadly Allure of Collectivism
Posted by Reasonsjester on March 18, 2010 at 10:00am
TIME IS NOW TO STAND WITH ISRAEL.............
Posted by conservative cowgirl on March 18, 2010 at 9:49am
Latest Activity
I agree. Words are not going to stop this, This man is intent on bring us down. Unfortunatly I am not at this time Phyisically able to be there, but Will be there in spirit. There is a war brewing and the longer we wait the harder it will be to win.…
No. There are two Senators from each of the fifty states equalling 100 total Senators. There are three classes of Senators: I, II, III. The classes are staggered so that every two year election cycle only 1/3rd of the Senate seats are up for re-elec…
Thanks for the info. What a pitiful website. They are just a distraction.
Elinor McLennon at Trinity Baptist Church
March 23, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8pm
Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ will be joined by Oklahoman’s Against CAIR Hate
to Protest the Council on American-Islamic Relations Annual Banquet.
OKLAHOMA CITY: On Tuesday, March 23rd, Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ will be hosting a conference a…
Wish I could be there, but, ironically, I'm a full-time caregiver for my wife, who is afraid of this bill, and all it encompasses. I will not be able to go to the activities on Friday through Sunday in DC, but I'll keep writing emails, calling and f…
People over 50 have had US history in school an the Males have all been in the military. The older may not say it but they know what washinton is trying to do.... It gives them a count of who they have to watch out for....
This from today's Star-Ledger:
Democrats and public employee unions were also drawing battle lines. Thousands of members of the Communications Workers of America planned protests across the state today, following demonstrations and television comme…
Agree with you T.V. Amnesty has got to be stopped it is up there with health care and neither of them can pass. This is one that every American should be fighting to stop. Thanks for the link information good information there. Everyone should also…
In response to Sam's input on answering the census, I wonder why the suggestion to answer #'s 6, 7 and 10. Anyone have an answer?
FIRE OFF AS MANY OF THESE AS YOU CAN
They cover the media sources
They include our tune "Nancy Pelosi" which we want played as often as possible.
OPERATION STOP TYRANNY – SPECIAL MEDIA LIST
TALK SHOWS
USE DEMON PASS AND WE SEND ALL DEMOCRATS TO…
That's' what I heard on Sean Hannity's show yesterday, Sally. Unless I heard wrong and Beck is only appearing at other stops on the tour.
Quote: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." President Abraham Lincoln
@mICHAEL: Hilarious! I posted this on my Facebook page.! What can I say...it's the truth....lol
This is why I have refused to financially support FreedomWorks or Gingrich-like groups as they are Progressive Republicans. I also told both the NRCC and the NRSC that I will not give them any money either.
Seems like they are all workng together t…
While I respect the opinion that we as Oregonians should foist our view of the pro life/pro abortion debate on the entire country I must respectfully disagree. Even in Texas if Abortion was outlawed, It is a max of a 8 hour drive to get to another s…
Badge
© 2010 Created by Grassfire Nation
