Comments on: Public Understanding of Cap and Trade

By: Emerging climate policy: Rube Goldberg would be proud | CEJournal

Emerging climate policy: Rube Goldberg would be proud | CEJournal — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:30:05 +0000

[...] impact on climate? Part of the problem is its Rube Goldberg complexity, which has left Americans puzzled and perplexed — not a good omen for sustained action on climate. But even if that weren’t an issue, I [...]

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:12:51 +0000

I agree that greater public understanding would reduce support. However, in an act NOW think later environment public support or opposition does not matter. An imminent crisis trumps public opinion and debate.

By: jae

jae — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:27:33 +0000

We are probably doomed by the unbelievable ignorance of our public. Hell, not only don’t most people know what cap and trade refers to, many high school graduates don’t even know the difference between capitalism and socialism. http://spectator.org/archives/2009/05/12/students-confusion-about-capit

By: Maurice Garoutte

Maurice Garoutte — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:24:58 +0000

Since cap and trade would harm the economy, and cost consumers, less understanding will lead to more support. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why the administration is working to obfuscate the issue with a marketing firm.

More Republicans are likely to understand the issue because of the bifurcation of the news providers. Republican opponents of cap and trade attack the operation of the tax and reach other Republicans through conservative outlets. Democratic proponents of tax and trade talk about saving the planet and the plight of the Polar Bears and reach other Democrats through most of the media.

Of course the “elite” are out in front of the public. If the public really understood what they are doing they would no longer be elite.

By: adkellen

adkellen — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:53:46 +0000

I think the primary reason that cap and trade receives more support among politicians than a carbon tax is that it does a better job of obfuscating the cost to the public. Increased public understanding can only reduce support.

By: stan

stan — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:35:32 +0000

First, GOP voters always have a better understanding of proposed legislation than Democratic voters. That’s been true on a consistent basis for many, many years. [E.g. People who listen to Rush Limbaugh have more education, work longer hours, and make substantially higher incomes than the average American voter.]

Second, the general inadequacy of understanding by the general public is another indication of the pathetically poor quality of journalism today.

As for your questions — a better level of public understanding would sink any chance of cap and trade passing. And the elite is clearly in a different place from the general public. Whether that is “ahead” is questionable. Throughout history elites have been more likely to embrace disastrous behavior and policy.