Should we Eliminate the Department of Commerce???

by **ned** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:16 am

The Department of Commerce contains the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which runs our system of intellectual property. Without it, America would have no way to ensure that inventors could fully profit from their inventions, giving them little incentive to spend the time and money needed for breakthroughs. The pace of American innovation would likely take a huge hit.

Commerce also includes the Census Bureau. The accurate count of Americans that the department provides each decade lets leaders and policymakers know how to allocate resources--housing, roads, utilities--around the country. And Commerce also encompasses the National Weather Service (NWS), which issues crucial warnings about severe weather like hurricanes and floods. When state and local officials make decisions about how and when to evacuate, they're generally going off NWS information.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/rick-perry-wants-scrap-three-government-departments-mean-212919120.html

by **karlitis** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:17 am

no

by **jabin20** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:20 am

no

No, but the Chamber of Commerce needs to go. It's a union for corporate fat-cats.

We could do without that.

.

by **jasper** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:28 am

All of the functions you describe existed before the DOC was created. You are leaving some stuff out.

by **chadburne48** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:32 am

Yes. Or, at the very least, cut it by no less than 75%.

by **wynn** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:34 am

Let the baby boomers retire and don't rehire.

by **arne33** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:53 am

Actually, eliminating the Department of Commerce would not release the Federal government from its Constitutional obligation to issue patents or conduct the Census. Both could still be done and would be required to be done even without the Department of Commerce.

In so far as how the Department of Commerce functions in regard to authority to "regulate commerce", this is what the "Father of the Constitution" had to say about the intent of that authority.

"It is very certain that [the commerce clause] grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and was intended as a negative and preventive provision against injustice among the States themselves, rather than as a power to be used for the positive purposes of the General Government" -- James Madison

The Department of Commerce is engaged in extreme overreach. It's well past time to cut it, adios, so long..goodbye.

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