The Solution To Climate Change: Tax Increase

 Representative John Dingell (D-MI) proves that Democrats, largely (if not completely) out of touch with reality have a simple solution for everything: Tax it!

Dingell’s latest plan, which even he has qualified as “painful,” includes some key points that are particularly hard to stomach. The proposal, as outlined in this Washington Post article, “floats” the following points for discussion:

• A 50 cent per gallon tax on gasoline and jet fuel
• A $50 per ton tax on carbon, released from coal, petroleum, or natural gas
• Elimination of interest tax deductions on home mortgages for homes for 3,000 sq. ft.

“Float,” I believe, is the operative word here. I can think of something else that floats – and then it gets flushed. In other words, this proposal is complete crap and deserves to be flushed. Gas prices too high? Raise taxes! Energy costs too high? Raise taxes! Pessimistic outlook for the housing market? Raise taxes! 

Not surprisingly, Dingell’s indecent proposal makes no mention of how the additional tax revenue would be spent by our responsible Congress. Perhaps if this additional revenue funded the exploration and implentation of term limits, the nation would welcome the increase. After all, Dingell is dubbed “The Dean of the House” for having served the longest tenure of anyone in the 435-member body.

Representative Dingell may turn out to be the Jonathan Swift of our times, making this indecent proposal more of a modest proposal. In this case, he’s not clearing Irish babies for British consumption, challenging popular opinion on Irish impoverishment. He’s challenging lawmakers to “an intelligent discussion” on climate change. Herein lies the problem:

Whom do we reasonably expect to hold an intelligent discussion on such a subject? Certainly not Nancy Pelosi, who argued for a larger, less fuel efficient airplane for personal travel. Certainly not Al Gore, who “embraces a carbon neutral lifestyle” within the confines of his “not so green” 10,000-square-foot Tennessee home, and aboard private jets.

The sad reality is that this issue will be debated by like-minded Democrats. No agreement upon the scientific merits of climate change and global warming will be reached – we’re screwed. Money will be siphoned from our wallets and carelessly thrown in the direction of another “problem” – we’re still screwed. 

It’s time to recognize that scientific issues need to be addressed by non-biased scientists. It’s time to recognize that not every social or global problem can be resolved with money.

In the meantime, I’ll be waiting patiently for this whole thing to blow over… munching on a baby.

[ The full text of Dingell's tax legislation proposal may be found here, and your comments on said proposal are welcomed here. ]