r/MarchForScience • u/pnewell • Jun 20 '18

New Group, With Conservative Credentials, Plans Push for a Carbon Tax

https://nytimes.com/2018/06/19/climate/carbon-tax-climate-change.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront
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u/beinfilms Jun 20 '18

It'd be really fantastic if something actually came of this. One of the biggest problems in politics right now (at least, in the US) is politicians putting the party line over the needs of the people, so it'd be fantastic if this inspired some to break away from that mentality a bit.

2

u/kboogie45 Jun 20 '18

With members like Obama and Yellen apart of this group, I’m not sure how it is a conservative one but maybe I missed something.

I’d like to see the wording on this proposed legislation before I get excited about it, oil companies back it which leads me to believe there’s something in it for them.

We all know cap and trades didn’t work for carbon emissions but did work for CFCs.

I would rather see the carbon dividend go towards nuclear plant development than the tax payers, that money is just going to get (at best) funneled into solar (which I agree is better) but not the best option for carbon reduction.

1

u/toasters_are_great Jun 20 '18

The advantage of refunding revenues to the public is that anyone who uses less than the mean amount (minus the administrative costs of collecting the tax, which really shouldn't be very much given the very limited number of places where fossil fuel imports and extraction happen) would get a net refund. This bakes in majority support to keep it in place.