Re: [Phys-L] Would a Carbon Tax Save Life on Planet Earth?

["Dan L. MacIsaac" <danmacisaac@gmail.com>]

I'd say economic.  The dismal science.  However, the physics of what we do 
to our undervalued living environment (the tragedy of the commons) are 
definitely germane.

Dan M

Dan MacIsaac, Associate Professor of Physics, SUNY-Buffalo State College
462SciBldg BSC, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo NY 14222 USA 1-716-878-3802
<macisadl@buffalostate.edu>  <http://PhysicsEd.BuffaloState.edu>
Physics Graduate Coordinator & NSF Investigator for ISEP (MSP) and Noyce

On Jun 4, 2013, at 3:07 PM, Andre Adler <andre.adler@gmail.com> wrote:

> But is not the question of should a carbon tax be assessed a political one and not a scientific one?
>
>
> On Jun 4, 2013, at 2:54 PM, Shahram Mostarshed <smostarshed@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > The Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) developed in collaboration
> > with 26 states and several scientific organizations is a transformative set
> > of guidelines for teaching science in the United States.  For the first
> > time, climate change is recommended as a core concept for U.S. science
> > curricula, including an emphasis on anthropogenic or “human-caused” effects.
> >
> > http://www.ametsoc.org/policy/2013climatesciencecoresciencee
> > ducation_amsstatement.html
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 11:36 AM, Andre Adler <andre.adler@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Pardon my acronyms but WTF does this have to do with physics education and
> > > learning?
> > >
> > >
> > > On Jun 4, 2013, at 2:07 PM, brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > On 6/3/2013 7:14 PM, marx@phy.ilstu.edu wrote:
> > > > > Now, we finally get to the real purpose of carbon caps and taxes... it's
> > > > > all about wealth redistribution, whether it be to third world nations or
> > > > > for so-called "social justice."
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, these fees would be passed on to customers at the gas pumps
> > > and
> > > > > their other energy purchases.  This makes everything more expensive for
> > > > > everyone - rich or poor - and further damages the economy.  A poor
> > > economy
> > > > > hurts the poor and middle class the most - regardless of the wealth
> > > > > redistribution.
> > > > >
> > > > > Profit margins for oil companies are between 3 and 9 %, which is
> > > perfectly
> > > > > acceptable.  Profit margins for software and pharmaceutical companies
> > > are
> > > > > typically the highest among all industries.
> > > > Interesting! I think of carbon tax as a way of avoiding or at least
> > > minimizing the "Tragedy of the Commons"
> > > > Would that kind of avoidance count as "social justice"? Not sure. Does
> > > limiting a fishery count as social justice? Perhaps....for the fish
> > > possibly. The  Atlantic cod; the whale (but that's no fish!)
> > > > Brian Whatcott
> > > > Altus OK
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