Anne Readel, New York Times, March 28, 2022
August 2015 - There is nothing as effective as immediate self-interest to generate action—for both individuals and corporations. The Cap-and-Dividend plan of HR 1027 works on that principle. The government auctions off permits to emit CO2, and hands out all the money gained in equal dividends to every man, woman, and child. This will result in some price increases, and people who take many trips, live in houses needing lots of fossil energy to heat and cool, and buy lots of things that require energy to make and use, will lose on the deal, unless they cut back on their consumption. Families making less than $120,000 on average will come out ahead, because their dividends will more than cover the price increases.
Over time, the number of permits offered will be reduced, lowering our CO2 emissions. This will raise the auction prices, so the heavy consumers will pay more, while others will gain more, at a cost of zero to the country. All will have increasing incentives to reduce their CO2 emissions, and all will have some money to do it.
Ask your Representative to co-sponsor this important bill, HR 1027, the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act. It runs on "the genius of the market,” and is probably the fastest way to do a U-turn on our road to climate disaster.
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U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Photo: Lois Barber
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