The argument for a carbon tax isn’t that it’s perfect. Rather, given what the idiots are doing already that it would be better:
In 1989 we finally, empirically and conclusively, solved the Socialist Calculation debate. All the bright people in government planning the world for us doesn’t work. Partly because all the bright people don’t go into government, partly because the planning is done on political, not economic, grounds and mostly because there’s no way that government can take account of the complexities of that world out there, the multitude of ways in which any specific point or problem can be solved.
Only markets, suitably prodded, can deal with all of that. Let’s not recapitulate the enforced poverty of the 20th century just because the enemy this time is climate change.
The solution to climate change will be emergent from a properly adjusted price system, not something decided in Cabinet nor enforced by those picking loser technologies around that table.
Hi Tim: Great article, as usual! I just noticed that the rainbow scenario chart accompanying the article shows actuals up to 2014. Do you have a pointer to an updated chart you could share with us? Thanks!
There is one around, I’ve even got it in a Word doc. Buggered if I can work out how to get it into WordPress though, sorry.
We’re on about RCP 4,5 at present.
Thanks, Tim!
Display the Word doc on your PC. Press PrintScreen. Run a paint program. Paste As New. Trim to fit. SaveAs an image file.
Eh? Well beyond my technical capabilities, sorry.
Tim essentially use a screen shot capture app etc to turn it into a jpeg and upload it to the image library and then insert it into the relevant post or page
Clip2Net is quick and easy: save local and/or upload
As usual, selling the carbon tax with the false choice of comparison to the even worse policy of total command-and-control. The hoax of man-caused* runaway* scary weather requiring world government to make us curtail our lives should be fought, not appeased.
On the worse policy itself, Brits have to wonder if Brexit was so desirable if the result is more home-grown socialism.
Yes!
Sigh. The article claims that a carbon tax is more betterer than the alternatives, then fails to adduce evidence in support of this claim. Which I admit would be exceedingly difficult because there is no evidence. Carbon taxes are simply the modern equivalent of Indulgences sold by the Pope to sinners to assuage their guilt and fund extravagant Papal lifestyles. Ask Al Gore.
But it’s nice if the indulgence money is paid to you.