Another Reason Why We'll Never See A Carbon Tax, But Instead Will Get A Crazy Cap-And-Trade Scheme
I have written enough on how much superior carbon taxes are to cap-and-trade as a CO2 reduction methodology (if we really are going to do "something," which I hope we don't). An index of these articles is here.
In the title, I say "another" reason, becuase the number one reason we won't see a carbon tax is that politicians greatly prefer an indirect tax over a direct one, even if it is far more inefficient. This was explained directly and clearly to me by the author of California's cap-and-trade program.
Close behind this, in second place, is the fact that cap-and-trade spawns a dizzying array of lobbying and special interest influence possibilities that carbon taxes do not, and all those lobbyists mean more power and campaign contributions for politicians.
But here is another reason why it will never happen: Too many very influential Democrats have substantial investments in start-up companies whose entire existance depends on living in the cracks of cap-and-trade, particularly in generating various dubious offset schemes. Al Gore is the most obvious example, but apparently Obama's new climate czar Carol Browner sits on boards of such companies as well.
Alan Cheetham:
See also this expose of Browner at Global Warming Science - the update entry for Jan 3.
January 14, 2009, 4:04 pmAlan Cheetham:
In the above comment the link got appended to the Coyote blog URL -- Global Warming Science is at http://www.appinsys.com/GlobalWarming
January 14, 2009, 4:07 pmAlan Cheetham:
In the above comment the link was appended to the Coyote Blog URL. Global Warming Science is at: http://www.appinsys.com/GlobalWarming
January 14, 2009, 4:10 pmBen:
It must be universal. We have the same grubby, snouts-in-the-trough behaviour over this side of the pond as well as this story in the Register shows.
January 14, 2009, 4:43 pmDr. T:
And what are all these crooked carbon trade-related politicians going to do now that some of the mainstream media finally are reporting evidence of cooling instead of warming? Do they think they can cram carbon dioxide-reduction regulations down our throats now?
January 14, 2009, 5:30 pmJohn Moore:
How could you possibly accuse Carol Browner of such things? She's a leading socialist, after all.
January 14, 2009, 7:12 pm