How can we make sure the burden of carbon taxing falls on the rich and not the poor?

Question

After all, the rich are the ones who can afford to pay as well as the ones who have created the most greenhouse gases in the past.

Why don't we take the tax money and invest it in free education, health care, housing, jobs, and transportation for working class people?

Answer 1

From each according to their ability.

To each according to their needs.

Right, freaky?

BTW...why does Al Gore stand to benefit financially from the sale of carbon credits?

Answer 2

You can't. A carbon tax will effectively increase energy costs, which will have a broad-based effect on the economy. Marginal economic activity, whether that activity is being undertaken by the poor or the rich (yes, the wealthy can be heavily invested in marginal activities, just on a massive scale), is where the damage will be felt. That's just a truism, any economic disruption will be felt at the margin, no big revelation.

The rich, though, are usually diversified, so when an investment goes belly-up, billions may be lost, but billions more are protected somewhere else. The poor don't have that option. So, even if the rich bear, say, 90% of the burden, that burden won't seem too devestating (ooh, you're less rich, poor baby), while there will certainly be some poorer people who can point to lost jobs and ruined lives as a result.

Answer 3

It would probably be a good idea to prove that carbon emissions from human sources actually CAUSES global warming.

Second, Cows actually cause more carbon emissions than all man-made causes alone, let alone the rich. Everyone who's ever lit a match, cigarette, started a car, or exhaled has contributed to carbon emissions. Do the rich exhale more carbon than the poor?

Third, you're not very logical here. You're saying that the money received in carbon taxes should go towards everything EXCEPT reducing carbon emissions. You're using this as an excuse to milk more money from the wealthy. The reason for the tax would have to be to reduce carbon emissions.

Lastly, you're a communist. Karl Marx would agree with everything that you've said. Did you know that one of the 10 tenants of communism as presented by Karl Marx was a progressive tax?

Rather than trying to get money from the rich, go and create a worthwhile good or service. You're a flaming liberal, and you probably don't even know it.

Answer 4

So basically you are advocating wealth redistribution also known as communism. Just come out and say you are a communist.
I have news for you buddy. These great ideas to tax the rich for the poor have never worked. The wealthy are able to move money and investments overseas or in tax shelters to prevent such a thing. The people in the middle always end up getting soaked.
Once this happens any economy suffers. Whoever you work for may find it more feasible to move overseas to avoid these taxes. There goes your standard of living if you even have one.

Answer 5

Businesses, particularly in the power industry, will be most hurt by carbon taxing. These businesses will pass that expense onto consumers both poor and rich. There is no way you can ensure that the rich pay for carbon taxing while the poor do not. We all will pay equally higher prices for gas and electricity under a carbon tax system.

Answer 6

Here's the dilemma:

Those who argue against funding public education, public transportation, and other services that would benefit everyone often don't care about everyone, only themselves. Why pay taxes for the local high school if your child attends a private academy? Or pay taxes for transportation if you drive a Mercedes? Why care that less-fortunate children can't receive a decent education or, as a result, a decent job because their parents did not earn enough money? Why care that job opportunities for a person are severely limited to those within walking distance because that person cannot afford a car and there is no public transportation?

The reason we don't do it is because far too many people are too self-centered to care. The working class work just as hard, if not harder, than the upper class. Those feel they shouldn't pay for public services because they don't use them forget that they choose to not use them, but not everyone has that choice.

Answer 7

Bull, If you drive a car or leave a carbon footprint of any kind you should be taxed too. I should have known this would turn into another redistribution of wealth program. Here's a thought, get a job, lay off the ganja and get with the program.

Answer 8

Carbon Taxes? Go on. Explain to me this concept. I'm actually interested.

Answer 9

So 35% tax rate on the "richest" Americans to the 0% and 10% on the poorest Amercians is not enough of a difference?

Tell us than, what tax rate or additional taxing should we exercise on the rich? 50% 70%?

Answer 10

"Why don't we take the tax money and invest it in free education, health care, housing, jobs, and transportation for working class people?"

Because that is stealing? The government has no moral authority to confiscate my income and give it to another individual.