Comments on: Why Cap and Trade Will Become Law http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:36:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: stan http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105&cpage=1#comment-13257 stan Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:08:28 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105#comment-13257 Congress has always had the ability to pass measures which generate tremendous tax revenue (subject to diminishing returns). The fact that a proposal is a huge generator of tax revenue doesn't mean it is a slam dunk to pass. The only way cap and trade passes is if the people don't understand that it is an enormous tax. While I am sure they will try to do all they can for the team, I don't think the news media is capable of keeping that information from the public. The news media is fast becoming a political version of the Maginot Line. Congress has always had the ability to pass measures which generate tremendous tax revenue (subject to diminishing returns). The fact that a proposal is a huge generator of tax revenue doesn’t mean it is a slam dunk to pass.

The only way cap and trade passes is if the people don’t understand that it is an enormous tax. While I am sure they will try to do all they can for the team, I don’t think the news media is capable of keeping that information from the public.

The news media is fast becoming a political version of the Maginot Line.

]]> By: Pielke: Cap and Trade Certain – NearWalden http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105&cpage=1#comment-13247 Pielke: Cap and Trade Certain – NearWalden Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:27:45 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105#comment-13247 [...] Roger Pielke, Jr on Why Cap and Trade Will Become Law…. [...] [...] Roger Pielke, Jr on Why Cap and Trade Will Become Law…. [...]

]]> By: Maurice Garoutte http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105&cpage=1#comment-13238 Maurice Garoutte Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:43:56 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=5105#comment-13238 If there’s anything politicians want more than money it’s power. Democrats see the cap and trade as both, money for their programs and power from donations from the traders who take a percentage of every CO2 allowance. Republicans see cap and trade as a political hammer to beat down the Democratic majority. The policy has already been re-branded as cap and tax and could be the largest tax increase in history. If a massive and regressive tax is passed by the people who promised to tax only the rich there will be a 1992 style change in congress next year. Of the 36 Senate seats up for election in 2010, 17 are held by Democrats. If I could think of some way that climate might be affected by this political power play I would have mentioned it right here. (Crickets) If there’s anything politicians want more than money it’s power. Democrats see the cap and trade as both, money for their programs and power from donations from the traders who take a percentage of every CO2 allowance.

Republicans see cap and trade as a political hammer to beat down the Democratic majority. The policy has already been re-branded as cap and tax and could be the largest tax increase in history. If a massive and regressive tax is passed by the people who promised to tax only the rich there will be a 1992 style change in congress next year. Of the 36 Senate seats up for election in 2010, 17 are held by Democrats.

If I could think of some way that climate might be affected by this political power play I would have mentioned it right here. (Crickets)

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