Carbon Income by Dennis Peterson
grout Jul 21, 2014 10:58 ![]() |
I like that this proposal would also incentivize buying locally produced products and locally
grown food. The additional cost of long supply chains would drive up the cost of products from
distant producers and make the local farmer’s market more attractive. Large groceries would
also likely buy local and be a benefit to the local producer.
Good for humans because:
1. Generally healthier food available for lower relative costs.
2. Less carbon emitted because less transport required
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Climate Colab Aug 5, 2014 08:24 ![]() |
The Basic Income concept would be anathema to conservatives. The wholesale change to voting systems and campaign finance is an insecure predicate for the implementation of this idea.
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Dennis Peterson Aug 16, 2014 03:42 ![]() | Proposal contributor
These days, any substantial carbon price is anathema to conservatives. At least, that's my impression after spending four years as a GOP precinct chair. If we have to stick with what will be acceptable to most conservatives today, we might as well give up on carbon prices entirely.
However, there is some right-wing opinion in favor of basic income. For example, see this piece at the Cato Institute, which argues that while basic income wouldn't be the libertarian ideal, it would be much better than our inefficient, paternalistic welfare state.
http://www.cato-unbound.org/2014/08/04/matt-zwolinski/pragmatic-libertarian-case-basic-income-guarantee
Milton Friedman made similar arguments (in favor of a "negative income tax"). Prominent conservative Charles Murray wrote In Our Hands, one of the leading books on basic income.
The real problem, and the reason I included democratic reforms, is not conservative resistance to basic income. It's that the fossil fuel industry has a very large influence on American politicians, and effectively blocks all carbon pricing.
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