One of my favorite books is The Boy Who Invented Television, a biography of Philo T. Farnsworth written by Paul Schatzkin. At about the sixth-grade level, Schatzkin tells the story of just about everything that can stand in the way of an inventor and the fruits of his labors. One of Farnsworth’s greatest challenges (which went unmet) was government favors granted in exchange for the efforts of big business lobbyists. Even Asheville’s Progressive City Councilwoman Robin Cape admits she would be in favor of a free market if “free” meant free of government perks to the big guys.

That said, Governor Mike Easley just demonstrated to the citizens of North Carolina that government is in the deep pockets of the fat cats. This particular instance was not so much a grant of corporate welfare, as an act to nip the competition of the world’s largest toy distributor in the bud.

In nothing less than a special favor, Easley lifted a ban on reindeer imports to the state just in time for Santa to make his annual toy run. “This isn’t fair to all the people who try to deliver toys with elk and emu and other species banned by the governor,” remarked Patty Beaver of the Council of Independent Business Owners.

Easley also made special arrangements with the FAA to give Santa (and no other toy distributors relying on green, animal power to reduce our carbon footprint) rights to special airspace corridors. Read all about it here.