Other Answers (13)

• I guess the point is that you can pay for a carbon tax or you can pay other much higher taxes to fix all the problems that global warming will cause. If a carbon tax is enforced it should be a an assessment of the damage being done to the environment caused by that amount of carbon released. Maybe you would understand it better if it was called a %26quot;fine%26quot; for polluting rather than a tax.
  
  If someone pollutes a river by dumping sulfuric acid into it should they not have to pay a fine because it might cause them to suffer? Of course not, and preventing pollution is just a cost of doing business, like any other business cost.

• Answer hidden due to its low rating

  To answer your question:
  
  Carbon tax isn%26#039;t a ridiculous idea because it is a good idea...
  
  Carbon tax is basically a user fee or tax. We charge people for using roads (annual registration fees), we charge people for using buses (tickets), we charge people for putting out fires (municipal taxes)... all of these things (and many more) are charged for in one way or another because they cost money to provide or maintain.
  
  To maintain or provide a clean, useful living space will cost money. People who dirty or worsen that clean, useful living space should pay to have it cleaned up and/or maintanined: Carbon tax.
  
  This is actuallt simple free market economics and basic capitalism - something the USA prides itself on yet for some reason, in this case, the USA tends to be the biggest objector!
  
  Objecting to paying for what you consume - thinking that carbon taxes are a ridiculous idea - is contrary to free market principles and tantamount to becoming communist - I had no idea you were a communist, Michael!