As soon as serious discussion about shifting federal taxes from income to energy begins, people will act. Yes, even before the tax shift is implemented.
Why? This direct solution, and it's associated message, will begin to change the mindset of U.S. citizens. The discussion will be proof that all recognize the need for direct action to solve these four big problems. Immediate changes (even if small in number) will occur. For example, the purchase of smaller vehicles and increased investment in alternative energy industries.
Do you think this will occur with a carbon dioxide "cap and trade" system or a tax on carbon dioxide emissions? I don't. These indirect actions will cause energy prices to rise, but indirectly. The primary message of these initiatives is that we only need to reduce CO2 emissions. This, of course, is not an accident - Congress has not been willing to lead on these problems. Our problems are much broader than just the amount of CO2 emitted.
The primary message of a BTU tax is that we need to reduce energy use and want to provide an economic stimulus for the alternative energy industry.
The government should be leading the way by recognizing the need for a tax shift because the market is not internalizing (accounting for) all the costs of fossil fuel trade. Instead, Congress
is picking arbitrary vehicle mileage standards for manufacturers.
Citizens/Governments/Organizations act when their self-interests are at stake. The bigger the interests, the bigger the action. Time will show that our interests in solving these four big problems - particularly global warming and our dependence on foreign oil - are HUGE. It is my hope that we recognize this early enough, and act, such that economic collapse is never a possibility.
For an interesting example of self-interests leading to action, look at the recent Mia Farrow->China->Olympics->Sudan outcome. Excerpts from the
USA Today article below -
Actress Mia Farrow, a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, who was one of those urging Olympics sponsors to pressure China over Darfur, said the link to the games had an effect.
"We are amazed by Beijing's reaction," Farrow told The Associated Press by phone from the U.S. "It shows that one thing is more important to the Chinese than their access to Sudan's oil, and that's the success of their Olympic Games."
The sooner we address an escalating problem, the easier it is to fix.
