Posted on 02/10/2005 8:15:28 AM PST by presidio9
A UK economist has proposed an innovative solution to global warming that's sure to spark controversy: Tax the unborn to provide financial incentives for today's citizens to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Andrew Oswald of the University of Warwick is calling for "Global Warming Bonds" to reward companies and people who reduce greenhouse gas emissions now.
The catch is that the bonds would be paid by taxes on future generations.
"Carbon dioxide emissions now get more attention than ever, but the focus has been on getting lots of countries to attend meetings and sign up to treaties," says Oswald. "That is useful but unlikely to make fast headway. What is required is an innovative way to allow unborn babies to vote with their wallets."
Paying down the temperature
Oswald put forward the idea at a policy briefing at the University of Warwick's London Office.
It involves a long-dated bond that would be valuable today but wouldn't begin paying until around 2045.
"In return for a cooler globe, our offsprings' offspring would pay more tax to the governments of their era," says Oswald. "Future generations pass us down their money; in return we pass them up our low temperature. All generations gain. And this would be fair, because those future generations will be richer than we are, and they want us to alter our actions to help them."
Oswald points out that people today get little benefit from cutting back on greenhouse gases while unborn voters of the next century would have different priorities.
"We like old sports cars and oil-fired central heating," he says. "They want us to have small new cars and use solar panels. Global Warming Bonds would provide people with a reason to change how they act."
Yeah, tax them and THEN kill them.
"TAX THE UNBORN"
Excuse me, but isn't that concept the ultimate in taxation without representation?
The only two certainties for a lump of tissue in this world: Death and Taxes.
This guy is an economist??
If only we didn't kill them, they could see that the utopia they bought with their taxes sucks just as bad as any other utopia the left creates.
We were warned, men are evil. But I know and trust my Lord, and His book's final chapters say God wins!
lets tax the undead too
Seems completely consistent to me. Taxation without representation is the logical outcome after first depriving the Unborn of any Constitutional Protections.
Tax the unborn to stop global warming?
Sounds like a liberal wet dream. Let's carry this one more step, shall we?:
"Tax the unborn of wealthy Christian parents to stop global warming and promote gay awareness."
Yeah, but what do we do to them if they don't pay?
How much more aware of gays and their repulsive proclivities do I need to be before they are satisfied?
"The catch is that the bonds would be paid by taxes on future generations."
Oh ... I get it ... like our Social Security Trust Fund.
Tax smug intellectuals!
He has used a medium to link with the unconceived and they hvae told him that they want midget economy cars and solar power.
Oh dear...
Europe's birthrates are below replacement. So what good is this going to do?
Can someone please post that millenial chart which shows how temperatures have been DECLINING for centuries.
Can someone please post that millenial chart which shows how temperatures have been DECLINING for centuries.
You mean like these?
|
Ice Ages & Astronomical Causes Origin of the 100 kyr Glacial Cycle
Figure 1-1 Global warming
Figure 1-2 Climate of the last 2400 years
Figure 1-3 Climate of the last 12,000 years
Figure 1-4 Climate of the last 100,000 years
Figure 1-5 Climate for the last 420 kyr, from Vostok ice |
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