The huge-er government gets – the greater its ability to deliver cronyism goodies.

The huge-er government gets – the greater its ability to deliver cronyism goodies. The bigger the wallet government has – the larger the regulatory hammer it wields – the more Crony Socialism it can dispense.

Remember when President Barack Obama said this?

The Obama Administration is excellent at both. The punishing:

And the rewarding:

Often there are moments of Crony Socialist harmonic convergence. When government can reward friends – while simultaneously punishing enemies.

Take, for instance, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)�??s latest auction of spectrum – the airwaves we use for all things wireless.

Big Money in �??Small�??-Business Preferences DISH Network�??s brazen abuse of the Federal Communications Commission�??s incentives for small businesses at a recent spectrum auction �?? to the tune of $3 billion, at taxpayers�?? expense �?? was enough to make even a Dickensian villain squirm�?�. Using multiple shell companies to qualify for �??designated entity�?� (DE) discounts, DISH Network effectively shaved off more than $3 billion in payments�?�. DE status is reserved for small businesses �?? not market behemoths like DISH Network.

How behemoth is DISH Network? About $34 billion. A little large for DE eligibility.

DE is Huge Government yet again trying to manipulate the marketplace – allegedly for good and noble purposes – and (shocker) failing miserably.

The DE program was created at Congress�??s direction more than 20 years ago. It offers qualifying small companies a taxpayer-funded credit equal to 25 percent of the purchase price to help them compete against their larger counterparts when bidding for spectrum.

DISH got a heck of a deal. I wonder why?

The co-founder of broadcasting giant DISH Network was accused in a federal complaint last week of intimidating company executives into making political donations that largely went to Democratic causes.

Ahh – that�??s why.

DISH’s $3B in Auction Discounts ‘Makes a Mockery’ of AWS-3 Auction, FCC Official Says

Don�??t get too excited – it was Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai who said that.

When government plays favorites – everyone else loses. When the Leviathan has its giant thumb on the scale – it is anything but fair.

DISH purchased spectrum on the crony cheap – that could have instead gone to any of the many other bidders. Many of whom are vocally opposed to many Administration power grab policies – including its recent Net Neutrality Internet takeover. One of whom – Verizon – successfully sued to undo the last Administration attempt at Net Neutrality imposition.

The Administration rewarding its friends – while punishing its enemies. The Crony Socialist twofer.

It�??s way past time for Huge Government to stop trying to micro-manipulate the private sector. The ends never justify the means – and the intended ends are never met.

And it will take a Crony Socialist weapon out of the government�??s vast arsenal.

Now that�??s a twofer for the better.