Jim writes:
>I'm saying that high prices of hydrocarbons -- from whatever source --
discourage the use of them (while their use causes global warming). I
would rather have those high prices come from a carbon tax than from
"normal" workings of supply and demand, since with the tax (in theory)
the revenues could be used to compensate the poor for high gasoline
prices, etc. rather than going into the pockets of Tony Hayward, Dick
Cheney, and his ilk. Of course, where the revenues go depends on the
fight-back.
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I am rejecting the claim that higher prices leads to reduced use.  But
even if we accept that, greater investment in commodity index funds
and oil futures also drives up the price of hydrocarbons, as does
monopoly or cartel control.  Are these also things that we should
cheer on and hope lead to a good fight-back?  Sorry, but I fail to see
how the politics of 'peak oil' are at all beneficial to the left.  It
only naturalizes what is a social problem and legitimize notions of
supply and demand as constant and predictable tools we can use (they
are not).

Brad
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