Could Cap-and-Trade Help Slow Global Warming?
The House recently passed a version of a plan that would sell emissions credits to polluters. Now the Senate will debate its own bill. Meanwhile, opponents raise red flags and push ideas they say are better and more understandable. Would cap-and-trade work?
Edited by Steve St. Angelo
Yes
On June 26, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive energy legislation that included,
By John Podesta
President and CEO of the Center for American Progress; former chief of staff to President Clinton
for the first time in U.S. history, a cap on global warming pollution. The bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act, would also boost investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, like wind and solar, to jump-start the transition to a clean energy economy. New investments in the clean energy technologies of the future would slash global warming pollution and reduce the use of foreign oil while also creating jobs....
No
In 1984, the late historian Barbara Tuchman wrote The March of Folly, in which she
By William O'Keefe
Chief executive officer of the George C. Marshall Institute and longtime energy industry consultant
chronicled the phenomenon of governments throughout the ages pursuing policies directly at odds with their self-interest. Tuchman used the term "wooden-headedness" to describe the tendency of leaders to assess situations using preconceived notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs.
History may be repeating itself. Our leaders in Washington are exhibiting signs of "green"....
What do you think?
Reader Comments
Fear the Ice
The earth has endured many periods of glaciation (Ice Ages) all followed by a period of "Global Warming". With slight variations the earth has been in a warming trend since the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (most current Ice Age) - about 11000 years ago. I observe the globe began to warm prior to SUV's and fossil fuels.
During the last Ice Age sea levels were hundreds of feet lower than today - Humans and animals have always adapted to changes in sea level, notwithstanding Eco-High Priest, ALGORE's opinion, and gloomy forecasts of the end of civilization.
At the peak of our most current Ice Age the glaciers advanced as far south as about the 40th parallel of latitude in some areas. Then, as now, life flourished in the middle latitudes.
The reason for this is actually simple - There is more biomass in warm climates than in colder ones... Greater Biomass means more life.
Considering this, it's easy to understand why we grow things in "green houses" and not freezers.
Further, I note that polar ice caps have completely melted away many times in the Earth's past - yet most life, even polar bears, survived.
To pursue a policy of burdensome taxation, and dogmatic environmental regulation based on the "pop-science" of a green-socialist agenda is beyond folly - it approaches madness.
Finally, I note that the earth is currently nearing the end of our current interglacial period I would suggest that the advancing ice will be the real threat in the future - Not ALGORE"S bogeyman - that, incidentally, has made him a very wealthy man... I mean, Eco-Priest.
Cap & Trade
It didnt work in Germany and its not going to work here. What we have is another Jimmy Carter in office who is goin to push thru Govt program after Govt program and the counrty will pay for many many yrs of bad decisions made by the govt time and time again. Im not one to put my Govt down heck I work for the Govt. But, the decisions they have made in the past 4 yrs to include recent decisons is why I have gotten more active in my Govt. I have switched parties and now consider myself an Independent. The GOP has forgotten its Core values, they want me back they will support the priciples that Reagan held so true to in his term, ehcih back to my point; is that this Cap and Trade is prefect example of how it has no effect on gloval warming and will force Energy companies to raise their rates.
global warming....It just ain't true
Let those liberal schools continue to brain wash you ! For every one that says it's true, three others laugh at you!!
Go study comedy, your already making us laugh, at you....
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