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."
Well, they've begun the process of taxing the air, all that's left is access to the sun and outer space.
This collection of data, given its depth and relativity seems to show convincingly that the trends and limits are ineluctably beyond anthropomorphic influence.
"Andrew Oswald"
With great ideas like this he *must* be related to that other famous Oswald: Lee Harvey.
"How much more aware of gays and their repulsive proclivities do I need to be before they are satisfied?"
When you're aware of a strong pounding sensation in your anus, that'll be enough for them.
One of Rush Limbaugh's Undeniable Truths: No nation has ever taxed itself into prosperity.
i dont think zombies can pay taxes anyways....
We already tax the unborn. It's called deficits and national debt.
They get all the breaks...
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