On 3/20/07, Eugene Coyle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Bill McKibbon is in the Bay Area speaking and flogging his new book and
activist movement.
His new book is Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable
Future.
He is pushing for a big national turnout on April 14 to demand action on
global warming. I didn't hear what specific action he is demanding, though
the book is about simple living, from the bit I heard on the radio.
If you were able to decide on the action Congress will pass in response to a
demand for action, what would it be?
Carbon Tax
Cap and Auction
Cap
Cap and Trade
regulated increase on gas mileage for new cars
subsidy for hybrids
outlaw new coal plants
Assuming that what you will recommend will pass, what is it?
Gene Coyle
I don't like distilling it down to a single demand, at least at the
policy level. It would take a number of policy actions.
If you want a one sentence slogan, it would be something like "Carbon
tax them, spend on us."
Three policy demands behind the slogan:
1) Carbon Tax with money distributed back to the population a la "Sky
Trust". Automatic escalation clauses.
2) Sectorial caps, along with other regulation, like efficiency
standards for buildings, vehicles, appliances, industrial equipment
and other energy consuming or emitting capital goods, outlawing of new
fossil fuels, requirements that agriculture and forestry provide and
least modest carbon sequestration.
3) Public financing of mass transit (from light rail to bike trails)
and other major efficiency and renewable supply.
Just like "Bring the troops home now!" Or "stop the war now!" has more
than one policy behind it, so must any demand regarding carbon.
