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> It already has a politically popular slogan, "polluter pays". This can be achieved with a carbon tax. Or even higher gasoline taxes in places like the US whe
by miohtama 5y ago
> It already has a politically popular slogan, "polluter pays".
This can be achieved with a carbon tax. Or even higher gasoline taxes in places like the US where gas is underpriced.
But people do not want this. It is politically infeasible. The current middle class rather preserves their current lifestyle for next 30-40 years they have left before the end of the old age rather than leaving a better planet for their children.
- rrrrrrrrrrrryan 5y agoI think it's the lower-middle class, honestly. There are a lot of people in America driving older used cars that already get bad mileage. Then there's the issue that most carbon tax proposals try to invest the money in green energy R&D or electric vehicle subsidies. Making gas 2x as expensive and Teslas 20% cheaper doesn't help these people at all - they simply can't afford a brand new car to begin with. Unless 100% of carbon taxes are given back directly to the citizens in the form of cash, it will always be perceived as grabbing money from poor rural people to subsidize the fancy lifestyles of "coastal elites" who want to drive shiny new luxury electric SUVs.