A US Carbon Tax In 2020–2021 Is As Viable As Paying The IRS With Dogecoin

As I rolled away from bed after just a few hours of sleep yesterday morning, I rolled onto a author group chat message that stated, “Based on Elon, Biden stated no to a carbon tax.” My first thought was, “please inform me this isn’t what I believe it’s.”

I don’t know the total context of the dialog between Elon Musk and President Joe Biden’s administration, however on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Elon stated, “I talked to the Biden administration, they usually have been like ‘Effectively, this appears too politically troublesome.’ And I used to be like, ‘Effectively, that is clearly a factor that ought to occur.’ And by the best way, SpaceX could be paying a carbon tax too. So I’m like, , I’m like, I believe we must always pay it too. It’s not like we shouldn’t have carbon producing issues. It’s simply that there’s acquired to be a worth on these things.”

Once more, I don’t understand how the subject got here up or in what context (possibly the administration was simply asking Elon for his perspective on the very best factor to do for the local weather and Elon supplied his opinion in a complete political vacuum), however the viability of a US carbon tax within the subsequent 2 years is someplace beneath 0%. (I do know, that’s not attainable. It’s only a rhetorical gadget to make my level as clear as attainable.) It’s extra possible — a lot extra possible — that Jeff Bezos will die poor than that you just’d get Joe Manchin (to not point out a number of different senators) to vote for a carbon tax.

Actually, I hope to the graciousness of Martian kings that Elon didn’t suppose he might truly persuade the Biden administration to go for this. As a result of it has nothing to do with the Biden administration. The Biden administration might attempt to make Dogecoin the forex of the US and China, however it’s simply not going to occur. And I’d say that pushing the Biden administration to try this could be equally as ineffective as pushing the Biden administration to attempt to get a carbon tax by way of Congress, however the former would truly be extra helpful — it will not less than be entertaining, dinner desk story, and never painfully grating.

Initially, if Elon does actually need this (I’m fairly certain he does), he must cease utilizing the phrase carbon tax and as a substitute use terminology that truly has an opportunity of getting onto a respectable invoice. (Elon, you may discuss to Climate XChange — or me — for a fast rundown on helpful terminology in addition to viable carbon pricing choices.)

Secondly, a little bit tad little bit of assist getting some utterly ineffective fossil-loving Republican senators out of workplace could be important — and that is an space the place Elon’s affect might go a good distance. Frankly, you may name it the “Free Ice Cream For Republicans Invoice” and it wouldn’t get a Republican vote in as we speak’s Senate if it put a worth on carbon.

Sure, carbon pricing was a Republican coverage proposal as soon as upon a time. Some outstanding Republicans even pushed arduous for it previously decade. (Relaxation in peace, George Pratt Shultz — I’ll pour one out for you tonight.*) Nevertheless, in case ye haven’t been paying consideration, this isn’t the get together of Lincoln! This isn’t even the get together of Reagan. Heck, darn, gosh golly, this isn’t even the get together of George W. Bush (who additionally wouldn’t contact carbon pricing with a 420-foot pole). That is the get together of … okay, effectively, let’s not even get into that. The purpose is that you just completely can not get carbon pricing by way of Congress and not using a bigger variety of Democrats within the Senate, sufficient to outvote fossil-country Democrats like Joe Manchin.

Is carbon pricing logical? Is it probably the most free-market choice to cope with the existential societal danger of local weather disaster? Sure and sure, however that doesn’t matter in any respect to a celebration that will get lots of funding from fossil gasoline firms, will fortunately let any and all firms pollute as a lot as they need, and can truly defend the one that virtually had them murdered from any political repercussions.

I’ll simply finish with this: There are tons of excellent cleantech insurance policies Elon Musk might push for when speaking to the Biden administration. If he’s not doing that and as a substitute pushing for a carbon tax, he wants some coverage/political advisors available, and may hearken to them. Do it for the doges not less than.

*A cup of espresso, that’s.

Featured photograph by Syed F Hashemi on Unsplash