Standing in support of the carbon tax!
Posted on June 17th, 2008 in environment, links, politics, rants, society, transportation, vancouver |
Would someone please tell me what all this ridiculous raucous over the carbon tax is about?!
The escalating carbon tax is a mere 2.4 cents to begin with. That is absolutely nothing compared to the market’s 10 cent increase over a week! People are looking for someone to blame for the high gas prices and the media has jumped onto Campbell and his carbon tax.
I’m not trying to support them - the Liberals have done a lot of things wrong in their time. But the NDP are by no means are a reasonable alternative, and they are simply playing into people’s fears - no different than the federal Tories policies! That’s politicking at its highest!
At least Campbell is doing something. The point is that the carbon tax will fund the provision of alternatives. Yes, alternatives should be happening much sooner, and yes, we’ve had a general gas tax for how many years? And yes, there will be regional discrepancies. But to call off a progressive climate change and taxation policy like the carbon tax because gas prices are getting higher is absolutely ridiculous and illogical - especially when the tax itself will only cost 2.4 cents a litre!
Which, according to calculations will only come out to $46 annually in carbon tax for a year’s worth of fill ups for a family of four’s van. That’s less than one fill up a year.
So really people, put the friggin’ tax into perspective.
Not to mention, low income British Columbians will receive an annual Climate Action Credit of $100/adult and $30/child. Which works out well for them, since presumably they’d be taking the bus anyways - which is much cheaper than driving will ever be. That could get them one month’s transit pass - certainly a better choice than one tank fill up!
If there is one certainty about the current rise in gas prices, it is that it will not continue forever.
Sooner or later, global demand for oil will come more into balance with its supply, and prices will fall. [The Province]
And, I’m sorry, but the reality is, gas prices are not going to go down. They may fluctuate, but prices will continue, over the long term to go up.
Think about the demand that’s coming from India and Asia. Think about how much resources our “North American” lifestyles use up. Considering neither of these groups is likely to demand anything less anytime soon, demand will not cease.
The concept of peak oil is that as soon as we have passed the midpoint in global oil resources, prices will skyrocket. That is because, from that point on, we will never have enough supply to meet the demand.
So, you think $1.50 is bad? Are you fearing the $2 mark predicted to arrive by 2012?
Well, consider this. Peak oil is estimated to hit between 2010 to 2013. Then the shit will hit the fan because you ain’t seen nothing yet. Prices will zoom to numbers never before imagined possible.
So please, stop trying to find someone or something to blame. Please stop trying to find some way of sustaining this unsustainable way of life.
Think positively for once and coming up with creative solutions to this big problem: electric vehicles, or moving closer to work, or bringing the bike out of the garage, or buying locally grown food.
And of course, support the politicians who will help facilitate this transition towards a sustainable way of life.
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8 Responses
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My problem with the carbon tax is not so much the gas tax - my problem with it is the natural gas, home heating tax. Terasen has raised their gas rates by 22% so far this year and this will just increase the rates further. Now, I know you are young Paul and you have problem never spent a night cold, but imagine living up in Northern British Columbia and having to chose between eating, food is also going up a lot due to this tax, and stopping your child from getting hypothermia. I have lived without gas for a winter and it was hell. I don’t even live in the North. To me taxing a necessity like heating is morally reprehensible. If it were not for the tax on natural gas I may be for this carbon tax, with it I feel it is immoral and wrong in every way.
[...] “green shifting” as the Liberals would have you say. As you may recall, I support the notion of a revenue neutral carbon tax. Carbon needs a price for the market to react [...]
Paul, I think you’re Liberal partisanship is a bit obvious, so why not act like a responsible partisan. Do what Bill Tieleman does, and declare your allegiance. You’ll feel better, less sneaky, and your readers will treat you with more respect.
@ Trisnic. “Immoral” is a very strong word. The fact of the matter is that everything our society relies on that functions on oil will continue to escalate in price. We need to move off of an oil-based economy.
I understand that it’s not fair to Northern BC. But the fact of the matter is that the carbon tax is so miniscule it barely affects the cost of anything. Complaining about Terasen’s rate increases is complaining about the market.
The North should look at switching over from natural gas to electric home heating. Produce said electricity in renewable ways, such as solar, biomass, geothermal or hydro. And there you go, we’ve solved the problem.
Furthermore, instead of complaining about the expense of living in the North, maybe some of these people should just move back into a warmer climate. There’s no reason why a good number of the residents living in Fort St. John couldn’t move to Prince George, Kelowna, or even Vancouver.
It’s market forces, and we’ve got to adapt. But these adaptations will ultimately be good for our society and for our Earth.
@ Rod. It’s absolutely absurd to call me a Liberal partisan. If you’d have read my blog beyond just recent posts, you’d have picked up on that.
I do not support the Liberals - I think they’ve done a whole heck of a lot to deserve being kicked out of power. However, the opposition NDP aren’t much of a second choice - I blame this wholeheartedly on a lack of leadership from Carole James. There is no third party.
At least Gordon Campbell, despite his shortcomings, gets things done, and shows leadership on the important issues. From my understanding, he did great as the Mayor of Vancouver, and while his history as Premier is rocky, I do currently support him as the leader of BC.
That does not in any way mean I am partisan to the Liberal party. I am not Liberal and I do not support most of their policies.
I just happen to support the carbon tax shift like many other British Columbians do. I will stand up high, yell it to the sky, but don’t you dare try and say that in doing so I am a Liberal partisan. It is insolent and presumptuous and I will not take it.
“I do not support the Liberals - I think they’ve done a whole heck of a lot to deserve being kicked out of power. …
At least Gordon Campbell … gets things done, and shows leadership on the important issues. From my understanding, he did great as the Mayor of Vancouver, and while his history as Premier is rocky, I do currently support him as the leader of BC.
That does not in any way mean I am partisan to the Liberal party. I am not Liberal and I do not support most of their policies.
I just happen to support the carbon tax shift like many other British Columbians do. I will stand up high, yell it to the sky, but don’t you dare try and say that in doing so I am a Liberal partisan. It is insolent and presumptuous and I will not take it.”
Paul, could you please re-read this passage a couple of times in a sober, relaxed frame of mind? I think you’ll see it’s a tissue of contradictions, and one that is formula driven. In fact it’s a verbatim repeat of speaking lines I have heard over the decades from BC Socred, and now BC Liberal supporters.
They deny they are partisans, then declare that at this point in time there is only one choice, because of some particular issue or policy item, of course. That’s what they say. Every year or two the supposed great issue of our times gets changed in the talking points, but the conclusion never budges, it’s always the same.
If you think people are gullible enough to believe this kind of rather threadbare song and dance routine, despite having seen it many times before, by all means go ahead. Many will join me in having a good chuckle at seeing an old routine reprised one more time.
A couple of questions:
- In your bid for Surrey City Council, are you running as an independent or are you a member of one of the municipal political parties?
- Secondly, did you know that the phrase “get’s things done” was used in election ads by WAC Bennett, and also by the fascist regimes of the 1930s? I was always curious as to why Bennett’s adman Bill Clancy appropriated a phrase with such a disgraceful past, but it seems that its appeal to simple minded obedience and unquestioning trust in authority appeals to some kind of emotional hot button in the minds of right wing voters and activists like yourself.
I think a carbon tax is a good idea, but I still don’t see how BC’s implementation is going to help the environment. I keep reading blogs that argue the tax is insignificant compared to the market-driven rise in price, but simultaneously argue that the gas tax will have some impact on people’s habits. You can’t have it both ways- either it’s insignificant or it it will convince people to drive less.
The biggest problem is that it’s revenue neutral. So none of the revenue raised goes toward actually helping the environment or providing people an alternative to driving. If even a small portion of the money raised went to fund wind power or public transportation projects then I could support it fully. But as it is, it’s just a gimmick to reduce income and business taxes.
@ Rod. I think you need to take a step back and calm down. You continue to throw out accusations about me that simply aren’t true. It’s making you seem quite hotheaded and nothing more than an annoying online troll. Furthermore, just because I am 18 does not entitle you to talk down to me like a child.
I do not support, endorse, or belong to any particular provincial political party.
In terms of whether I would prefer Gordon Campbell or Carole James as the Premier of BC, I would have to choose Gordon Campbell for a myriad of reasons.
I support progressive forms of taxation, as well as efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and thus I support the provincial carbon tax.
I am running as an independent in my bid for Surrey City Council.
I know very little about the Socred era of BC - my knowledge of provincial politics begins in the 90’s. While it is important to know some amount of history, I tend to live much more for the opportunities of tomorrow rather than dwelling on the past.