Rising Tax
@flowerchilde (12529)
United States
February 12, 2013 9:02am CST
"...Putting a slowly rising, significant price on carbon emissions would encourage people to burn less fossil fuel ...would enlist market forces to green the energy... It would also allow for similar policies in other nations to connect with America’s, creating a bigger, global market for carbon."
What do you think?
Call me cynical, but I think this will accomplish three things, higher prices for consumers, the wealthy buying and selling carbon credits making no carbon difference, and more taxpayer money for politicians and bureaucracy to waste.
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/climate-change-and-the-president/2013/02/09/317db2fa-7239-11e2-a050-b83a7b35c4b5_story.html
5 responses
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb 13
I think you have some good points. If people are happy with who they have voted into offices then whatever they come up with should be satisfactory. If not they should think twice before letting these people get into office. They are the ones in control and if our representatives won't listen to us then its our own fault.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
14 Feb 13
..I wish we could figure out a way to reduce the size and power (reach and scope) of government.. And federal government which is growing the fastest, by leaps and bounds, is harder to keep a leash on than local state government..
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Feb 13
Perhaps by giving local government more power. About the only way I think.
@ErrollLeVant (4353)
• United States
12 Feb 13
I like your cynicism, and I think you have the situation figured about right!
1 person likes this
@musicman6 (2406)
• United States
12 Feb 13
ErrollLevant, I totally agree with you and flowerchild, because 'they' are not gonna do anything for 'us', unless it puts money in 'their' pockets first !
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
12 Feb 13
Hmmm, (thank-you! both) ...and I see I am not the only cynical and distrustful one around! I actually can't believe all the trust in the air these days when it comes to (big) government. Sure is different from when I came of age in the 70's!
@peavey (16936)
• United States
12 Feb 13
I agree, but I don't think we're going to dodge the bullet on this one. Deeper in the article, it states that the president should remind Congress that the EPA "can and will act on its own." It goes on to say that the EPA's rules will stop more coal plants from being built and will shut down some "particularly awful, ancient coal-fired facilities." Hello, higher prices!
Buying carbon credits was a stupid idea from the beginning. It doesn't change anything; it's just a game for rich people to salve their consciences. They refuse to save energy or "carbon" in their personal lives.
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
14 Feb 13
The American people seem to be pretty good at adjusting to higher taxes, especially if it comes out of their pay cheques and it's a slowly rising tax. Also, the American people want their cars as they are. Unless someone can develop an electric or hybrid car or a car fueled some way other than petrol, that performs as well as the cars we have now, we're not going to be interested no matter how loudly the save the planet voices cry.
So far, I don't think our clean air policies have had any effect of other countries.
