Earth Day April 22, 2011

Trouble wrote:

I'm still really curious as to what sources you found your information that forms the basis of your beliefs - I'm always looking for the weak-links/gaps in my knowledge, the stuff I haven't considered that might change my mind. Anything you'd like to share would be appreciated! Thanks!

I can just hear the sarcasm in this post! I think I've backed up why, in my opinion, it's totally ridiculous...but hey, if it makes ya feel good to pay those extra taxes...just do it!!

And exactly why do you think that there's any sarcasm there? Here's a hint - if someone admits that they don't know everything and are searching for more knowledge, then it means that they are humble; they understand that they don't have all the answers and are still trying to learn as much as they can. I was asking very sincerely and honestly - all I ever do is attempt to search for the truth. If you have a source that I haven't seen before, it's only going to be another source of knowledge to use in my analysis.

You merely backed up the scams to watch out for and I countered with where I pay into and how those scams are avoided if you do your proper research (just like any other product you buy - you look for good ratings and reviews, reliability records, etc) - you did nothing to address the issue of paying for carbon offsets that are effective. I listed out what I do directly myself to reduce my carbon footprint, and how I use offsets to cover the remainder, and listed the group that I pay into who has a good track record. So how is it ridiculous to pay into a fund that supports projects that directly reduce our carbon emissions on top of what my family already does?

major bean wrote: You might consider that carbon offset fees are a huge taxes. they are new taxes. they are huge taxes. It will cripple the economy.
Every product that you purchase will have the tax added to the price of this product. Not all countries will be assessed the same amount for their goods, so it is also a tariff against the U.S. products.
The carbon offset taxes will be spent on giveaway projects and entitlements.
The carbon offset tax will not reduce carbon emissions.
The carbon offset tax cannot eliminate carbon emissions.

Please consider that the largest offender with carbon emissions is the gov't.

And no, to both of you, current carbon offsets are NOT taxes - these are voluntary donations made by individuals and companies to pay for projects that lower our emissions directly. There have been no laws passed that requires individuals or companies to pay for their carbon footprint. Major bean, of course the government is the biggest offender - in that they continue to subsidize polluting fossil fuels and haven't done nearly enough to move our economy into sustainable energy production.

A tax on carbon will do what it should - reduce use. Carbon emissions will never be completely eliminated and that's fine - there are many natural sources out there - but it will attempt to reduce what extra we are putting into the atmosphere burning fossil fuels, doing unnecessary transport, and creating products that add emissions (all of which need to be done in conjunction with reducing deforestation). If it's implemented at the source of production (fee-and-dividend, I've talked about it before), then the cost will be passed on to all countries equally.