Comments on: Transparency and representation in the Waxman-Markey vote

By: Fat Man

Fat Man — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:42:49 +0000

I have thought a lot about this. I am not opposed to cap & trade system, or a carbon tax, but I think this bill is so flawed as to be worthless.

Start by asking yourself what a good system would look like.

First, all of the permits to burn fossil fuel would be auctioned off and the proceeds would go into the Treasury. Anything else lines private pockets at public expense, and risks embedding incumbency in the system.

Second, the only people who should be required to buy permits should be people who extract fossil fuels from the earth or who import them. Requiring end users to obtain permits puts a burden on far too many people. Will ordinary citizens be required get permits for their cars and gas stoves? If a large number of people are exempted, there will be fiddling and cheating.

Measured by these criteria, the House bill is woefully inadequate.

By: Carlos Ferreira

Carlos Ferreira — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:44:05 +0000

On the one hand, this was an example of terrible negotiation, using time constraints to get things done before anyone can negotiate anything, or even understand what’s going on. The pandering to farmers’ groups, especially, was depressing.
A question, though: would a long negotiation herald some sort of truth, or at least enlightened decision, or just prolong the rent-seeking and argument-counter-argument we’ve seen for so long?

Don’t get me wrong, whatever the answer to that question might be, it doesn’t excuse the process.

By: chiggy

chiggy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:33:57 +0000

Confuse the public (which is such an easy thing to do) over the requirement for environmental controls whilst slipping through the back door the (real intended) command-and-control legislation……divide and conquer – graft onto the vine…..jeez, people are so easy to manipulate !!

This ain’t no environmental crisis (never was/will be anyway !) this is a political crisis.