Making us pay

The Game

"Many economists like the idea of a carbon tax, saying that it would be simple to administer and could profoundly affect energy choices."

“ But Mr. Dingell, in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on C-Span, suggested that his goal was to show that Americans are not willing to face the real cost of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. His message appeared to be that Democratic leaders were setting unrealistic legislative goals. “I sincerely doubt that the American people will be willing to pay what this is really going to cost them,” said Mr. Dingell, whose committee will be drafting a broad bill on climate change this fall. “I will be introducing in the next little bit a carbon tax bill, just to sort of see how people think about this,” he continued. “When you see the criticism I get, I think you’ll see the answer to your question.” The idea behind a carbon tax is to provide an incentive to reduce the use of fossil fuels like oil and coal, which are loaded with carbon, and increase the use of cleaner, renewable fuels like solar power, wind and fuels made from plants and plant waste. - [Counting on Failure, Energy Chairman Floats Carbon Tax] ” If I'm reading this correctly, Nancy Pelosi ordered House Energy Chairman John Dingell to float an energy tax.  Again, if I'm reading this right, Dingell is one of the House Democrats who think Nancy Pelosi is dumber than dirt, so he's sticking it to her.  It's a win-win for him.  Dingell's style of chairing the Energy Committee is to use it as a fund raiser.  It doesn't matter what legislation he proposes, or who he decides to investigate, lobbyists from the side about to be gored (get it?) will shower the committee member's reelection funds with moolah.  Everybody's happy. As an aside, Dingell was the model for the crooked power committee chairman. Dick Dodge. in Eddie Murphy's 1992 film "The Distinguished Gentleman." At the time Republicans hadn't controlled the House, or chaired a committee for 38 years, but Hollywood still chose to make Rep Dodge a Republican.  Those people have no soul.