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The question is who will pay that tax? In Musk vision governments should lower other taxes (which one?) and introduce carbon tax. I am afraid that the devil is
by piokoch 11y ago
The question is who will pay that tax? In Musk vision governments should lower other taxes (which one?) and introduce carbon tax.
I am afraid that the devil is in the details and it may turn out that this tax will be paid mostly by car owners (rising delivery costs, so food prices would grow) or people in rural areas who use coal heaters. The poor will suffer most in such case.
I am also afraid that governments wouldn't do anything else to lower carbon emission - doing that would be stupid, they get more money thanks to large carbon emission.
I think it is time to figure out honestly, without any eco/anti-eco bullshit what it the best (clear, cheap and practical) way to produce energy.
I suspect this will never be done, as eco people would have to admit that nuclear energy is a viable option to go (I don't believe we can base modern economy on energy sources that depend on weather). Anti-eco people would have to admit that fresh air is something more important than coal mine owners interest (and coal mine workers interest too).
I really regret nuclear energy had such a bad press and, as a result, there weren't any significant innovation in that area (in particular how to reuse nuclear wastes).
- pzone 11y agoWell, lower taxes on poor people. Increase welfare, subsidize public transportation and other things that help transfer money to people who are hurt by the tax. "Figure out the best way to produce energy" is not something we can figure out posting on HN, or even in a presidential debate. It is a complex and very uncertain question, but since it is a question of innovation, it is the kind of question that markets are very good at answering. A carbon tax directs the market toward finding out the solution efficiently.
- tbabb 11y ago> I am afraid that the devil is in the details and it may turn out that this tax will be paid mostly by car owners (rising delivery costs, so food prices would grow) or people in rural areas who use coal heaters. The poor will suffer most in such case. [citation needed]