Goodbye Green, Hello Greenbacks: How Trump's Deregulation Means Wealth for America

 

With Trump's victory, it is not just about making America great again—it is about making America's corporations free again. No more FTC tyranny, just unchained profit and jobs for the people.

Looks like the cat is out of the bag, and that cat has orange fur. With Donald Trump clinching victory in the 2024 presidential election, the corridors of corporate America are echoing with excitement and perhaps a collective sigh of relief. The big, bad watchdogs—the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ)—can officially be declawed. And for those oil magnates, it's time to pull out that old Sarah Palin chant: "Drill, baby, drill." Yes, as of November 6, when Trump was declared the winner, the fear is over.

For corporations, especially in the energy sector, Trump’s return signals a second wind—a no-holds-barred push for expansion and profit. Under the Biden administration, regulations had tightened their noose on companies, most famously marked by Lina Khan's aggressive FTC pursuit of monopolistic behavior and regulatory intervention in mergers. Microsoft, Amazon, Google—all household names had tasted the bitterness of a strict regulatory regime. Well, it looks like those days are numbered. Khan, often regarded as the next Ruth Bader Ginsburg of antitrust laws, had made headlines with her crusade against Big Tech, aiming to rewrite the rules to suit the 21st century's digital monopolies. But now, her clout is bound to decline, with the antitrust emphasis shifting to a more hands-off approach that puts big corporations in the driver's seat.

Trump's administration has always had a cozy relationship with oil. In 2017, during his first term, the U.S. saw the lifting of long-standing federal restrictions on offshore drilling, including in the Arctic and the Gulf of Mexico. He slashed Obama-era emissions regulations, thereby giving oil companies a boost they hadn’t seen in years. Fast forward to 2024, and it’s déjà vu for the oil giants. With the return of their biggest cheerleader, they can dust off the plans for new rigs, new refineries, and new projects that had been stalled by what they viewed as unnecessary bureaucracy.

The average American may not be shedding tears for the FTC’s shrinking influence, either. No one likes high gas prices, especially when they're commuting daily to make ends meet. Trump's promise is simple—drill more, pay less. More drilling means more supply, which means the good old supply-demand principle comes into play. As oil prices drop, the effects will trickle down (pun intended) to lower transportation costs, cheaper groceries, affordable household items—the whole shebang. It’s a classic "help the corporations, and you help the voters" argument, and it might just work, at least in the short term.

The American tax payer may be feeling a small thrill of optimism. After all, just last summer, gas prices soared over $5 a gallon nationwide, prompting widespread frustration and protests. In Trump's rhetoric, all of that could be a thing of the past. He’s the Santa Claus in November, and instead of leaving coal, he’s leaving a promise of cheaper fossil fuels that could make holiday shopping a little less painful. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, heralded as a landmark piece of legislation aimed at tackling climate change and capping drug costs, now seems like a ghost of the past—a relic from an administration that tried to push climate goals at the expense of America's pocketbook.

But while corporate giants are popping champagne, critics are crying foul. The push for deregulation doesn’t just loosen the grip on businesses; it also loosens the protections in place for consumers, the environment, and workers. "Lower prices at what cost?" they ask. Rolling back emission standards and green energy initiatives might lead to short-term relief at the pump, but the long-term consequences are less promising. Hurricanes, wildfires, droughts—climate change isn’t taking a break just because Trump’s back. A 2023 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlighted the severity of climate disruptions, noting that 2022 alone had witnessed 18 weather/climate disaster events in the U.S., each causing losses exceeding $1 billion. The worry is that deregulation will push America back to policies that favor corporate profit over environmental preservation.

Moreover, mergers and acquisitions are making a comeback. It’s almost a paradox—what's supposed to make markets competitive is now likely to create more conglomerates and less choice for consumers. Imagine fewer companies controlling more sectors—from pharmaceuticals to tech to energy. History has shown us where this can lead. Back in the 19th century, Standard Oil, founded by John D. Rockefeller, was able to monopolize the oil industry by absorbing or eliminating its competition, ultimately being broken up in 1911 by the U.S. Supreme Court under the Sherman Antitrust Act. That act was a reaction against excessive corporate power, and yet here we are in 2024, seemingly flirting with a repeat. The DOJ’s role as the gatekeeper of fair competition is becoming a mere shadow of itself.

And yet, there's an audience for this change. Many believe that the best way to ensure economic prosperity is to free corporations from the constraints of "big government." It’s the quintessential American tale: David doesn’t always have to fight Goliath—sometimes, David just wants cheaper gas. Taxpayer pockets have been pinched enough, they argue, and it’s time to stop worrying about what Big Oil does and start reaping the benefits at the register.

The most controversial part of Trump’s win might be the perception that he has successfully positioned himself as the champion of both the corporate titan and the common man. He’s promising billion-dollar oil corporations freedom from restrictions, while also promising the everyday voter a cheaper lifestyle. It's a tough balancing act, and time will tell whether it pays off or leads to disaster. Is America truly better off when corporations thrive without oversight? Or are we just setting ourselves up for another bailout when deregulated growth leads to unchecked excess? Trump’s victory gives us a chance to watch the answer unfold.

For now, corporations are certainly seeing green—both in terms of dollars and in terms of go-signals from Washington. They’re brushing off those ambitious M&A plans, imagining less red tape, and getting ready to flex their muscles without fear of the FTC or the DOJ lurking in the shadows. And for the oil industry? It’s all systems go, with pipelines, drilling permits, and fossil-fuel optimism making a comeback.

As for the voters, they’re hoping that the "art of the deal" works in their favor this time—lower prices for everyday items, more jobs, a stronger economy. They want the good life that was promised without the bureaucratic hassle that usually comes with it. They want their cake, and Trump’s victory suggests they might get it.

Only in America could an election promise both corporate indulgence and consumer satisfaction under the same banner. So, grab your popcorn. With Trump back in the Oval Office, it's going to be a heck of a show. After all, "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, and well, welcome to 2024."