NDP should teach correct principles, then step aside

Re: “Carbon tax an appropriate, rational response,” April 19

David Gue writes that the carbon tax is just a new normal in our world and a totally appropriate method to deal with the “problem” of greenhouse emissions.

1. Gue suggests that the only position held by the scientific community is that of anthropomorphic climate change. This is not the case. There is a vast group of climatologists who deny this type of climate change, who state that the changing climate is due to the nature of the Earth and has little or nothing to do with mankind's activities. For example, scientists are finding the impact that solar activity has on the climate is much more significant than originally thought. Regardless, is the science settled? In either direction, the answer is a resounding no. Science is never settled and we always have more to learn. Enacting a tax on an unknown seems rash and inappropriate at the least, and certainly unprincipled.

2. Gue states that higher income households “can afford” to pay the tax. Regardless of affordability, an unprincipled tax is still an unprincipled tax. There was nary a whisper about during the NDP’s campaign. Suggesting that the wealthy should simply pay up violates principles of basic economics and principles of decent society. We do not have the right to steal from the wealthy, even if we vote for it.

Can Albertans do a better job as environmental stewards? Absolutely. There is always room to improve. But our government, instead of leadership by coercion, should be teaching the people correct principles and then allowing self-governance. We are, after all, adults.

Suzanne Douglas Irvine, Alta