DrCaleb DrCaleb:
CharlesAnthony CharlesAnthony:
Go stand on the street corner with a rainbow plackard saying "Carbon Taxes are good!" and let us know how your day goes.
There are no 'good' taxes, but governments have few options with how to limit products that are harmful or unwanted. Banning, and taxes are pretty much the sum total. That's how alcohol and tobacco are limited, through tax increases. Carbon pollution is no different, unless you think petroleum products should be banned?
Carbon is vastly different.
Here's why:
When taxing cigarettes or booze, we know what the effect will be. We know that increasing prices by $X amount will result in X% reduction in usage and $X amount reduction in health care costs, longer life span, etc.
When we price carbon, we know that it forces companies to reduce their output or buy more credits to maintain, but the effect of the reduction in carbon isn't known. We cannot say that reduction of carbon by X amount will result in a specific outcome.
Multi-billion dollar programs should have an outcome and a goal. Moving money around with the hope that something might happen or change isn't a great idea.