They are the ring leaders of the so-called Carbon Gang. The gang that never saw a carbon tax they didn't want to kill.
And they like to brag about that all the time. Or should I say they did.
Because unfortunately for them a new apocalyptic report makes what they're doing look both crazy AND criminal.
So much so that Andrew Scheer is now complaining that Justin Trudeau's Liberals are the ones who are consumed with carbon taxes.
Not him.
.@AndrewScheer says he's frustrated that the conversation around climate action has been consumed with the carbon tax. He says whether you're for it, or against it the Liberals are trying to frame that as you're either committed to the issue or not #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/d5UzBaWBEJ— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) October 9, 2018
Can you believe that?
When in fact it's Scheer and his ghastly Cons who have been beating us over the head with their ghastly carbon tax attack ads for what seems like forever...
Even though in its report, the IPCC declared carbon taxes to be the best way to reduce emissions, and help save the planet.
Which means that Justin Trudeau is going to be able to use that against the Cons in the next election campaign...
Declare that he's doing what the IPCC report recommended, AND putting money in the pockets of Canadians.
While the Cons can only hope that next summer, the one just before the election, isn't as hot or hotter than the last one.
Or risk looking even more ridiculous than usual...
Or even more dangerous.
For let's never forget that the Carbon Gang Cons are fooling with the future of the planet.
They will almost certainly be charged one day with crimes against humanity.
And the verdict of history will be a harsh one...
A lot of economics is witch doctor stuff. Economics is a creation of an artificial reality. It is built around some basic principles that are immutable. First supply and demand. Second if you want less of something, tax it.
ReplyDeleteDoug Ford saying Trudeau made a bad trade deal for Ontario is so beyond the pale it looks like he is running for leadership of the Federal Party. Look out weak andy your not going to get the kind of help you think.
Hi Steve....Ford is running to be Con leader. I haven't the slightest doubt about that. He'll have to wait until Scheer is defeated, but you can be sure that he won't be doing him any favours. Throw in Mad Max who just registered his party, and it's not hard to understand why Scheer is looking so desperate....
DeleteThe interviewer was good and kept pushing the IPCC report and the new Nobel winning economist who won because of his ideas about the benefits of taxing carbon.
ReplyDeleteChuckles almost blew it when he was about to bring up that there are alternate views, but caught himself.
The CBC pushed the climate warning last night. I hope they keep it and our government starts warning us too.
Hi ffibs....having the Nobel prize awarded to a scientist who won because of his work on carbon pricing is a blessing from heaven, for between that and the IPCC report the Con Carbon Gang is going to find itself caught between a rock and a hard place. But that will only happen if the way a carbon tax works is properly explained to Canadians, for if it isn't the Cons will be able to keep claims that it's just a tax grab. My Mum suggested that what is needed is an educational campaign similar to the one that was used to bring in the metric system. Apparently they used a lot of simple cartoons to get the message across. And anything would be better than nothing....
DeleteThe problem with your argument is that this government's carbon tax, if it ever comes to reality, is for $20 a ton going up eventually to $50 a ton. If you read the research, an effective carbon tax begins at $200 a ton ranging upwards to $600 per ton in some analyses. $20 a ton is purely gestural. As ever, the devil is in the details.
ReplyDeleteIt's realpolitik. Unless you actually want a basic Chinese dictatorship, there's only so much Trudeau can do right away. Consider the fact that any carbon tax at all is getting people to sharpen their pitchforks. If Trudeau wants to stay in office and do right for Canada by warding off the Cons federally, he has to strike a balance. The Cons are copying from the Republicans' shrieking about Obamacare, which didn't go nearly so far as a Canadian healthcare system and was actually designed by the Koch-sponsored Heritage Foundation as a "gift to insurance companies," but nevertheless got successfully framed as a communist takeover leading to "death panels," abortion trucks on every corner, and a massive "redistribution of wealth." Rinse, repeat, douse in maple syrup and feed it to Harper and Marshall's hungry troll brigade, and you've got a recipe for another "tea party" uprising. Fear is the path to the dark side.
DeleteThe Cons suck at policy, but are as adept at fear-based propaganda as their American cousins and German forebears. With a lunatic in the downstairs apartment, and an equally bloodthirsty right-wing equivalent at home facing him down, Trudeau can't rock the boat too much, or else the Liberals will drown in a blue wave and the whole country will get fucked even worse. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Hi anon@1:14 PM...I realize that our carbon tax levels are way too low, but you have to start somewhere, and raise the price as time goes on. But remember we're not dealing with a static situation, as the carbon taxes kick in our society will get greener, and what you will be inflicting the highest carbon prices on will be the most egregious offenders, or the industries most resistant to change. As ffibs pointed out the winner of one of this year's Nobel prizes is a scientist who showed how carbon pricing can save us. It's a monumental challenge because that pricing would have to be applied on a global scale, but if our survival depends on it we have no choice but to try...
DeleteHi Jackie...well said. I find myself these days telling a lot of people that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Unfortunately a lot of progressives don't seem to understand that simple concept, and are as dogmatic as they come. Or spoiled: if I can't have my way I won't play WAAAH!!! Which of course only plays into the hands of our enemies. I understand why progressives are angry and bitter, but now is the time to be angry but smart...
DeleteHere in BC at least 60% is given back to the culprits producing the oil.As a resident we no longer receive the " carbon neutral" cheque. Between the Gov. and industry there seems to be nothing left for the citizens
ReplyDeleteHi anon...I wasn't aware of that, and it seems counterproductive. But the Liberals are apparently planning to send rebate cheques to ordinary Canadians so that sounds like a much better system. My carbon footprint is a small one, but I'll take a cheque anyway...😉
DeleteScheer plus the vomit-worthy Ford and Kenney "bromance" reminds me of those goofy mountain men from the 1980s Bob Newhart sitcom about the bed and breakfast in Vermont: Larry, Darryl and his udda brudda Darryl. Now Low-Energy Weak Sad Andy seems to think he and the Koch/Fraser bullshit artists writing copy for him know better than scientists and Nobel laureate economists? I think it's time to tax the Conservatives heavily, for polluting the public discourse by producing nothing but noxious methane every time they open their mouths. Or other orifices for that matter.
ReplyDeleteFrank Lutz is writing their lines, I hope Canada will not fall for his flat round arguments
DeleteHow is it that Trump-talk, expressions such as the 'failing' this or that or 'low-energy, weak' is creeping into our own conversations? It's odious when he repeats these terms endlessly. Is it somehow better when we mimic him?
DeleteI consider referring to "Weak Andy," "Crooked Harper" or "Dopey Donald" as "punching upwards" and reclaiming the language. Bullies can dish it out, but don't like it when it gets turned back at them.
DeleteHi Jackie...I've mentioned this before, but every time I hear Doug Ford's whiny sing song voice Seb has to practically put me in a choke hold to stop me from attacking the TV. And the picture of Kenney and Ford staring at each other like they were about to get married left me in a practically catatonic state. But we are going to have fun mocking them, and the way the universe is unfolding time is not on their side...
DeleteHi Steve...I once attended a lecture by Luntz, which I found quite interesting. But hasn't he turned over a new leaf and working for our side now? Don't tell me I had him in my sights but let him get away...😎
DeleteHi anon @5:47 PM...I understand why you might be annoyed, but I feel like Jackie. I see it as a way to throw their words back at them. I am particularly disturbed by the way the Cons try to squeeze the word "failing" into everything they say about Juatin Trudeau in what seems like a crude attempt to brainwash us. So I am only to happy to return the favour. As you probably know I am extremely partisan, but I almost always have a smile on my face. And the way I see it, if I can keep smiling the Cons will never bring me down...
DeleteMeanwhile, the Danish government wants to phase out gas and diesel vehicles by 2030 and the opposition criticizes them for wimping out of a 2025 deadline! Can we get some Danish leaders over here?
ReplyDeleteHi anon....I know what you mean, it would be nice to have some Danish leaders working in this country to inspire us to try harder and come up with more original leaders. I feel the same way about some of the people I have met in Scotland. But we have to come up with our own leaders, and I'm sure we can. Living right next to the U.S. has made us lazy and greedy. but with disaster staring us in the face, I'm sure we can rise to the occasion...
DeleteAnd don't forget the greatest con of all: Stephen Harper, the man who hates Canada.
ReplyDeleteThe master manipulator will not rest until he destroys this country.
Hi anon...I never forget what Harper did to this country. He is the reason I started blogging, and one of the reasons I still continue is because I want to make sure we never experience a nightmare like that one again. I'm glad to see his new book is getting some bad reviews, but I still can't shake the feeling that he is planning a comeback...
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 10:04 PM
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Harper actually hates Canada. He just is such a twisted person that it looks that way. Of course, the results are often the same.