Pay now or pay more later
The campaign against the "hidden gas
tax" is penny wise and pound foolish. While there's reason for concern
about oil companies increasing the price of gas, let's consider the
hidden costs of the problems made worse by climate change, including
wildfires, drought, floods, heat waves and severe storms. Californians
will be picking up the tab for these disasters in the form of increased
taxes, food prices, insurance rates and health-care costs. By
comparison, the projected increase in the price of gas will look like a
bargain.
Instead of fighting the gas tax, I'd suggest supporting a
reasonable alternative. Citizens' Climate Lobby proposes national
legislation that would place a fee on fossil fuels where they're
produced. Carbon-use fees would also be added to imports from countries
with no carbon fees. The revenue would be paid as dividends to
households to protect them from rising gas and other prices. A recent
study by Regional Economic Modeling, Inc. shows that such a plan would
create jobs, increase the gross domestic product, save lives and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Now that's a plan that makes cents to me!
Connie Young
Fresno
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