Harper can't rule out carbon tax

If it was a terrible idea when the Liberals coupled it with personal income tax rebates, why would he consider it just because the Americans do it?

Oh it's a terrible idea, but knowing who's the President currently, there's an issue.

Some people, when advocating for a carbon tax system, state that they should put tariffs on countries who do NOT implement the system, thus keeping local manufacturing competitive. If the Americans implement the carbon system, and put into place a tariff system, our trade with the US will probably decrease.

Of course, I'm sure a few people will cheer with glee when they happens, and say we should trade more with China or India or whoever, but honestly, trade doesn't exactly work that way. Thus the wonders of corporations.

why did he imposed the HST in the first place if he don't want any new taxes?

Wasn't that two provincial governments? I never figured out that issue myself...

He'll say he's 'considering it' as Obama is.

If he said 'no carbon tax' all the GW cultists would be wailing into their Al Gore biography's and their media chums would paint him in an even nastier kitten eating light.

If he said 'there will be a carbon tax' he'll be toast for the right of centre voters plus he'll give the partisan Lib's a nice 'I told you so' headline.

Therefore he will go with 'considering it'. Politics.

Soounds to me lie he's saying "Wait to see what the US does." Maybe he should just submit an application to be a state.

The Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade bill which passed the House in the US has options for tariffs on countries not exerting similar economy killing measures on their countries.

Also I'm almost positive a story broke in Canada during the American election on a leak that said Obama was threatening tariffs if Canada did not play ball with cap and trade should The One be elected.

However, best guess is the Dems will not be dumb enough to try to pass Cap and Trade before their 2010 mid-term elections. I think they're in November.

So we most likely get a reprieve.

There is a possibility Obama may simply have the EPA (environmental protection agency) put controls on large releasers of CO2. They can do that without legislation, but if they go that way, there are no legislated, killer tariffs, so who knows how Steve would react to that one.

I sure hope he doesn't do it. Charging a carbon tax would not be as effective as giving further incentives to lower carbon dioxide emissions. The old, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." I personally think it would accomplish more.

Come on Zip! You don't expect a politician to say it as it is do you? You still believe in Santa don't ya!?

Actually, I give Harper credit more than other politicians for saying it like it is. He doesn't quite have the gumption to come out and say that he thinks global warming is a pile of crap, but in comparison to others he's actually been pretty good at being forthright.

I wish he did have the guts to come out and say it. It would make a nice clear split and we could move the debate to a more honest realm.

Considering that the Euros are currently finding out the hard way how easy it is to defraud one of these ridiculous "carbon markets", the carbon tax is probably going to be the lesser of two evils in the long run. The key is to match it out with cuts to income/payroll/business taxes. And the problem is then that no one in their right mind trusts any fucking government out there to cut some taxes in order to equalize the addition of the carbon based tax.

Sigh. I can't take any more of this. When's that asteroid that George Carlin mentioned supposed to finally show up?

Dec, 2012

It's funny why people are so against a Carbon tax, but willingly hand over 50% of their income to the government as Income tax. At least an environmental tax has a purpose and a reward for improving. Income tax is out-and-out government thievery. The reward for doing well is to pay MORE tax, not less. But in the end, people will like a Carbon Tax if it means they get to keep more of their money than they do right now. If it means they pay more tax, they'll hate it. It's the amount, not the form, of taxation that'll be most important to voters.

I agree. It's obvious he thinks it's a load of shit but if Obama is playing politics with the issue it makes sense for Harper to do the same.