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

Let's see if I can spell this out:
Analytical meteorology is considered a physics subject.
And here were are with a projection that global climate change will lead to uniform sea level rise World-wide:
a projection that, interestingly, is almost certainly wrong. But the only basis for debating this projection is by the underlying physics. In a comparable development from some years ago, it was considered that nuclear power generation was just too likely to lead to widespread illness and death, in respect to Three Mile Island, and later, Fukushima (sp?), a projection that interestingly, was also almost certainly wrong. Here again, the only rational basis for debate is the underlying physics.

Do you want students to be in a position to make rational choices in these long-term issues? Or not?

Brian Whatcott
Altus OK


On 6/4/2013 1:36 PM, Andre Adler 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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