Robert Leguillon <[email protected]> wrote: > > I could not fathom a scenario where the climate lobbies would not try to > exorbitantly tax carbon-releasing fuels in order to expedite their "phase > out." >
I do not think that will be necessary. It will phase out of its own as quickly as replacement automobiles can be manufactured. That would be like putting a tax on slide rules to encourage the use of electronic calculators. I think on the contrary, people will probably try to put a tax on cold fusion automobile mileage, measured annually on the odometer. Actually, I think this would be justified. We have to pay for the roads. There is already talk of putting a tax on the electric car mileage, to replace the gasoline tax. People might also demand a tax to "prevent job loss" in the oil business. That would be futile. They might want to tax to help pay for retraining of people in the oil business, and to help scrap the old gasoline distribution infrastructure. It will cost a great deal to dig up the old tanks at gas stations. The oil companies will be bankrupt, so they will not be able to pay it. I think a tax for those purposes would be justified. Perhaps it would not be fair to levy this tax only on cold fusion automobile drivers. I would charge all automobile and truck drivers, including the ones who still use gasoline. People should not be penalized for using a more efficient, cleaner technology. - Jed
