The Washington Democrats sent out an interesting tweet yesterday. Pointing out that China has a “market-based climate program,” the Democrats ask, “Why not WA?”
Beyond the absurdity of using an oppressive and corrupt regime as a point of comparison to our state, for the Democrat Party to suggest anything done in China is market-based reveals a basic misunderstanding of economics (and political science). Hello, the government controls everything in China, remember?
The Democrats’ tweet references the communist regime’s promise to launch a carbon market by 2016. Asking why Washington State doesn’t take its lead from China gives the tweet an attention grabbing shock factor, but it also reveals just how out-of-touch Democrats are with reality.
Carbon markets are breeding grounds for non-transparency and corruption—two significant problems with which China struggles. The European Union’s failed carbon market program—a program run by democratic governments with agencies in place to combat corruption and ensure transparency—was plagued by corruption. There’s an obvious question here: If a carbon market program run by governments with existing anti-corruption infrastructure succumbs to corruption, how much more will a carbon market run by a notoriously corrupt, authoritarian communist regime prove corrupt and unsustainable?
Democrats’ use of China as a point of comparison for Washington State is beyond foolish. China is by far the world’s biggest carbon emissions offender. China’s emissions from fossil fuels grew 150% from 1995 to 2010. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) projections indicate that, by 2030, China’s carbon emissions will surge to unprecedented levels—that’s despite President Obama’s one-sided, “historic” carbon deal with the communist regime.
China’s long-term and ongoing abuse of the environment is truly appalling. Air pollution threatens China’s economy (grounding flights and shutting down highways), the health of the population, and food supply (agriculture suffers from “nuclear winters”). Meanwhile, Washington State managed to reduce carbon emissions by 9.75 percent between 2007 and 2011—largely the result of a dramatic increase in hydroelectric power.
Democrats’ suggestion that Washington State should follow China’s lead is not only ignorant, it’s just plain insulting.
China is the highest user of carbon based fuels and establishing a carbon market there is the biggest of enviro jokes. Washington state establishing a carbon market is also not in the interest of our citizens. Who will end up paying for these carbon credits that companies here will buy??? The market always transfers costs to the customer not the share holder. The economic poor in this state will again be forced to pay for these credits the most costing them more funds which could be used for pulling themselves out of poverty. But this state will try anything once even if it kills us.
It is okay if you live in King County, they are very happy to absorb the cost and will pay a Carbon Tax to the State as well.
And we receive their carbon in the air we inhale here. Our leg better wake up and start reading the information that is out therre on the subject.
King County knows what is best for them so carbon market is the way to go, . Some ultra left wing nut jobs believe that EPA is good for us to ensure that all those dirty factories and corporations are shut down and move to China. Don’t worry their polluted air will never spread in the US because the little green guys in the sky protects US skies from pollution.
Well, if Kshama runs for Senator and wins due to the King County infinite wisdom. The ultra left wing nut cases, hippies, and the rest of the of the liege men and the sycophants will vote for her and will change WA “for the better”. King County is a happy go luck self tax themselves to death these folks are perfect participants and believers what the politicians say and do.
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If WA State wants to follow what China is doing King County need to vote for Kshama as the governor or senator that is the only way that she can tear up the WA State Constitution and force WA to eat a commie constitution.