Let Consumers Decide
July 19, 2015
I am writing in response to the op-ed written by Ashley
Swearengin and Lucy Dunn (“Be careful on sweeping climate change bill” July 10).
I appreciate that they are concerned about the potential
economic impacts of the governor’s plan to address climate change, but
unchecked global warming will do significant harm to the global economy
(especially in agricultural areas like the San Joaquin Valley). If we are asked
to not address climate change in order to avoid economic woes, we are behaving
like someone plundering their retirement account to solve easy, short-term
money problems.
The Citizen’s Climate Lobby has proposed a solution that would
address many of Mayor Swearengin’s and Ms. Dunn’s concerns: carbon fee and
dividend. Under this plan, a fee is collected on fossil-fuel extraction, and
then returned to the public as part of a monthly dividend.
This plan would put pressure on producers to be more
efficient in their use of energy and materials and to shift towards
non-polluting energy sources, while keeping money in the pockets of consumers,
stimulating the economy. This would spur innovation by putting decisions in the
hands of consumers on the open market.
Matt Armstrong
Fresno
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article27519466.html
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