A Climate Change Proposal With Cash

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I love this idea. It would instantly get every citizen paying attention and involved, including those in the dark like the long poster above.

hooper of MA 9:16PM June 30, 2008

You have got to be kidding. The very fact that anyone is thinking about or writing about "Cap and Dividend" means that you drank Al Gore's Kool Aid and that you actually believe that mankind has a measurable effect on Climate Change. You need to really review credible science. Not Al Gore , (who invented the internet science), but real science by real Scientists.
Hang on to your seat now, because this is going to be a real shocker............ The Polar Bear Population has grown since the mid 1980's. It hasn't decreased. Our little white furry friends are safe and thriving. But, don't let facts get in your way.
The planet earth has cooled over billions of years and has heated over billions of years. It did so with humans occupying space on the planet, and it did so with humans not occupying the planet. It will continue in it's various cycles. If one were to actually study and understand the current data, it could certainly be interpreted to predict that we have begun a period of long-term cooling. That, just as global warming predictions, however, would be irresponsible. We all need to stand down, drive our cars, emit our co2 and live life. The planet will take care of itself.
Have a great day. And by the way.......... If you really want to make a significant contribution to society, the United States of America and Planet Earth: Set your mind to replacing virtually every Politician in Washington with people who really care about the rest of us. Also, set term limits of no more than 8 years for any federal position.

Gil Barrett of MA 11:53PM June 18, 2008

why not just start with new emitters?
would be easier to implement.
Yeah, they'd kick and it wouldn't be good enough...but those later emitters would add to the pressure to phase in the legacy emitters as time goes by.
if it's felt to consumers as a cost increase at the pump or on the utility bill, that's phased in gradually too, but all the pressure is in the right direction of making polluting more costly and rewarding conservation and nonpolluting new energy.

Steve of TX 2:01PM June 07, 2008

Good idea. Cap and Trade would kill the average person's budget.
However, we must keep the economy going at the same time. We should
look for more oil domestically.

AL of KS 11:04AM June 05, 2008

The "working paper" by Boyce and Riddle at the University of Massachusetts can also be found here:
http://www.capanddividend.org/files/WP150.pdf

Matt Lappé of CA 7:45PM June 04, 2008

>The idea, spelled out in a *working paper* last fall by economists at the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute
That link goes to an http-not-found message. Can you guys double check this link?

Dr. Rockzo of CA 5:26PM June 03, 2008

Oxymoron - well run federal program.
First, we need a comprehensive energy policy that includes drilling on federal land, ANWAR, and the east and west coast continental shelves in the short term. Renewables are not ready to power this country.
Second we need to fast track new nuclear plants to be added to the sites of existing reactors. This is needed in our quest for green energy. Renewables will eventually replace nuclear.
Third we need some real research and now the government programs into how to make renewables robust enough and plentiful enough to power this nation.
These people who want to turn this already teetering country on its head to go green now, claim that the extra pain in the short term will be worth it. Perhaps the new Democratic Party, run by the far left and the likes of George Soros, don't realize that the majority of Americans can run out and throw away their pickup trucks and older vehicles in favor of a pricey hybrid. Perhaps they don't understand that until we become energy independent using green or drilling domestically we will be at national security risk in the world because we import almost half of the worlds oil exports. Drilling is the fastest way in the short term to become energy independent and green can follow. Where is this nation's national security based energy policy? We don't have one! All for a nd as yet unproved man made climate issue?
Read more at:
http://brokengovernment.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/a-national-security-energy-policy-what-are-we-waiting-for/
and
http://brokengovernment.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/future-cost-of-air-travel-what-does-it-mean-to-us/

Ken Moyes of AZ 11:05AM June 03, 2008

This is STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! You MORONS!! If you think you will get ONE RED CENT back from this HUGE GOVERNMENT JOKE, you need to pee in the bottle, because you are ON DRUGS BIG TIME!
Shut this down now. This is another attempt for democrats to bring America down to a 3rd world country.

Mike of FL 9:20AM June 03, 2008

Cap & Dividend has to be one of the best ideas around for how to control CO2 emissions. Another variant that is gaining popularity in Europe is Cap & Share, in which greenhouse gas permits are given to citizens to sell to polluters / fossil fuel producers. But to my mind this would entail excessive transaction costs and be open to fraud. The one thing I think is missing from C&D is the idea of retaining some of the funds raised to spend on developing solutions, such as renewable energy development, energy research and energy conservation, and on financing adaptation for climate change victims, for example to sea level rise or the loss of fresh water supplies.

Oliver Tickell, Kyoto2.org 7:22AM June 03, 2008

Great article.
Cap and Dividend is simpler and better than other proposals. Oil companies pay for permits, and we get the revenues.
It avoids the problems of the European Trading System's lobbyists and exemptions. No need to argue about how to spend auction revenues, just give them back to the people. We'll need it if gas prices keep going up.
The Climate Protection Campaign is promoting Cap and Dividend in California.
Check out our petition.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Californian-Climate-Rights
Also more resources and info at www.carbonshare.org.
Cap and Dividend is an idea whose time has come.

Mike S. of 2:21AM June 03, 2008