4 ms·

Carbon taxes are extremely unpopular in the USA where many doubt the validity of climate change.

dmm 5y ago
They also seem unpopular in France, see the yellow vest riots in 2018. Consumption taxes in general disproportionately affect the poor.
- paulsutter 5y ago
  Carbon taxes should start out very small, and phase in gradually over the equipment replacement period (at least 20-30 years?) Carbon taxes need to drive a shift in planning - on the planning time horizon - for everything that emits carbon
- DennisP 5y ago
  So don't pay your carbon tax into the general fund. Pay the revenue out as a dividend, equal amount per capita. If you emit less CO2 than average you come out ahead. Poor people tend to emit quite a bit less than rich people; they buy less, ride the bus more, live in apartments or smaller houses, etc.
  - bequanna 5y ago
    If you want to go down this road you should be looking at % of income spent on carbon taxes. Maybe some “carbon allowance” would then be afforded so the lower income people that qualify could claim a deduction on their personal income tax return.
    - DennisP 5y ago
      Lower income people would already be turning a profit. Anyone with lower-than-average emissions would get more in their monthly dividend check than they pay in total carbon fees.
- stainforth 5y ago
  Carbon taxes do not have to equal consumption taxes.
wffurr 5y ago
73% in favor is hardly "extremely unpopular". https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/06/23/two-thirds-of-americans-think-government-should-do-more-on-climate/ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/06/23/two-thirds-of... The real issue is that the remaining 27% have a death grip on the levers of power by exploiting undemocratic aspects of the US electoral system.
- astronautjones 5y ago
  "many doubt" is the same as "some people are saying", you can usually add "in completely bad faith" after those phrases
- LatteLazy 5y ago
  73% "claim" to support taxing corporations. How many will actually vote for it knowing it means higher prices? This is the fundamental issue with climate change. Everyone agrees someone else should do something...

dmm 5y ago

They also seem unpopular in France, see the yellow vest riots in 2018. Consumption taxes in general disproportionately affect the poor.

paulsutter 5y ago
Carbon taxes should start out very small, and phase in gradually over the equipment replacement period (at least 20-30 years?) Carbon taxes need to drive a shift in planning - on the planning time horizon - for everything that emits carbon
DennisP 5y ago
So don't pay your carbon tax into the general fund. Pay the revenue out as a dividend, equal amount per capita. If you emit less CO2 than average you come out ahead. Poor people tend to emit quite a bit less than rich people; they buy less, ride the bus more, live in apartments or smaller houses, etc.
- bequanna 5y ago
  If you want to go down this road you should be looking at % of income spent on carbon taxes. Maybe some “carbon allowance” would then be afforded so the lower income people that qualify could claim a deduction on their personal income tax return.
  - DennisP 5y ago
    Lower income people would already be turning a profit. Anyone with lower-than-average emissions would get more in their monthly dividend check than they pay in total carbon fees.
stainforth 5y ago
Carbon taxes do not have to equal consumption taxes.

wffurr 5y ago

73% in favor is hardly "extremely unpopular". https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/06/23/two-thirds-of-americans-think-government-should-do-more-on-climate/ https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/06/23/two-thirds-of... The real issue is that the remaining 27% have a death grip on the levers of power by exploiting undemocratic aspects of the US electoral system.

astronautjones 5y ago
"many doubt" is the same as "some people are saying", you can usually add "in completely bad faith" after those phrases
LatteLazy 5y ago
73% "claim" to support taxing corporations. How many will actually vote for it knowing it means higher prices? This is the fundamental issue with climate change. Everyone agrees someone else should do something...