Push to end carbon tax will seem silly some day

EDITOR:

I believe the present “hew and cry” to remove the carbon tax will be seen historically as a very silly argument. Similarly we look back at the views of the “Flat Earth Society” as silly and ill informed. Also we remember the insistence of the tobacco industry, not many decades ago, that tobacco did not cause cancer. That, too, now sounds silly, led by silly (and diabolical) industry people.

Scientists are telling us repeatedly and with rising urgency that our world must move away from dependency on petroleum and do that as soon as possible. Dire consequences await us the longer we delay. A carbon tax offers us a market-based way to change consumer habits and move from petroleum dependency to other technologies. Of course there will be victims and some will be hurt more than others – our challenge will be to mitigate those costs and hurts as much as possible. Our real debate should be two fold. (1 ) How can we ease the transition for those most vulnerable, and (2) should we double or triple the present carbon tax, so that we can make this transition faster.

From those who attack the carbon tax, I am not hearing any coherent alternative that would enable a quick transition away from carbon dependency. Rather it seems they just don’t like taxes.

However, if they know an alternative way we can make a speedy transition away from carbon, with no discomfort, I am sure we would all listen. Perhaps, like Donald Trump, they think the scientists are mistaken.

Approaching climate change in turtle-like fashion may work for turtles in their habitat; however, for the planet we want to hand on to our grandchildren, it does not seem very wise.

TERRY SHILLINGTON, LETHBRIDGE