Best thing we can do to level our playing field with China?

[fairsheet]

Two words: "Carbon tax". No tariffs, no trade war, no economic tit-for-tat. All we need is a carbon tax levied at the same rate, on everyone. We can produce goods for sale in America, considerably more greenly than can China. And..we can even compete IN China, with green goods produced in America.

 

[gabriel]

Two words: "Carbon tax". No tariffs, no trade war, no economic tit-for-tat. All we need is a carbon tax levied at the same rate, on everyone. We can produce goods for sale in America, considerably more greenly than can China. And..we can even compete IN China, with green goods produced in America.

yeah, americans love taxes!! lol

 

[fairsheet]

Funny thing is...a carbon tax would actually give us a slight market advantage over our friends to th North. It wouldn't be nearly the advantage we'd realize vis a vis the Chinese, the Indians, the Brazilians, et al, but it'd be an advantage nonetheless.

 

[gabriel]

Funny thing is...a carbon tax would actually give us a slight market advantage over our friends to th North. It wouldn't be nearly the advantage we'd realize vis a vis the Chinese, the Indians, the Brazilians, et al, but it'd be an advantage nonetheless.

how so?

 

[fairsheet]

how so?

All other things being equal, the U.S. would have an advantage over ANY importer, simply by dint of the carbon tax that must accrue to the transportation of the goods. But, all other things aren't quite equal. I think the U.S. probably produces slightly more "greenly" than does Canada, although the difference isn't profound.

But, the difference would be way more profound vis a vis say...China, given not just China's "non-green" production, but the distances over which the goods must be transported. Another cool thing about a "carbon tax", is that it doesn't just affect our relationship with wouldbe importers. It would also drive internal competition regarding "green".

 

[gabriel]

All other things being equal, the U.S. would have an advantage over ANY importer, simply by dint of the carbon tax that must accrue to the transportation of the goods. But, all other things aren't quite equal. I think the U.S. probably produces slightly more "greenly" than does Canada, although the difference isn't profound.

But, the difference would be way more profound vis a vis say...China, given not just China's "non-green" production, but the distances over which the goods must be transported. Another cool thing about a "carbon tax", is that it doesn't just affect our relationship with wouldbe importers. It would also drive internal competition regarding "green".

and america doesnt export as well??

 

[NightSwimmer]

how so?

Modern societies living in the more extreme Northern climates wreak havoc on the environment with their snow plows, road salt and fuel oil heaters being required simply to survive in an environment that is not naturally amenable to human existence. Besides, the cabin fever alone drives them all batshit crazy in the Winter.

 

[fairsheet]

and america doesnt export as well??

On the flipside to my angle above, transportation/carbon tax costs being equal, the exporter that produces more "greenly" would have an advantage. American, CATO/Norquistian opponents of a carbon tax, just don't get it.

All they can see, is a carbon tax adding (hypothetically), $1 to the cost of American goods. They see this as an obvious "bad". What they're ignoring, is that that carbon tax could add (again, hypothetically) $5 to the cost of the same goods from China. So, instead of being $1 behind, America is $4 ahead. We're godamned fools to not be taking advantage of this 21st-Century opportunity.

 

[gabriel]

On the flipside to my angle above, transportation/carbon tax costs being equal, the exporter that produces more "greenly" would have an advantage. American, CATO/Norquistian opponents of a carbon tax, just don't get it.

All they can see, is a carbon tax adding (hypothetically), $1 to the cost of American goods. They see this as an obvious "bad". What they're ignoring, is that that carbon tax could add (again, hypothetically) $5 to the cost of the same goods from China. So, instead of being $1 behind, America is $4 ahead. We're godamned fools to not be taking advantage of this 21st-Century opportunity.

i didnt need that evidence to know you are goddam fools

 

[fairsheet]

i didnt need that evidence to know you are goddam fools

I imagine it takes one to know one, as Canada fights the idea of a carbon tax, at LEAST as adamantly as we Americans do.

 

[gabriel]

I imagine it takes one to know one, as Canada fights the idea of a carbon tax, at LEAST as adamantly as we Americans do.

canada doesnt . stephen harper and the oil industry do.

 

[fairsheet]

canada doesnt . stephen harper and the oil industry do.

I think you just "answered your own question" (so to speak) there.