Rogerian Rhetoric Project
Carbon Fee and Dividend: The most economical solution to fight climate change.
The majority of scientists and people can agree that climate change is happening and that if it continues then it will continue to affect the wellbeing of our families, our land, and the planet. What is more commonly being discussed is how much of climate change is caused by humans. An article released by The New York Times states that 13 U.S. agencies released an exhaustive report stating that “humans are the dominant cause of climate change”. This is in line with what about 97% of scientists agree on. Prince Ea drove this point home in the poem Will this be humanity’s fate? “If you are on a plane with 100 pilots and 97 say that we are heading for disaster if we don't change course and reroute and 3 of them say, “Ehh we’ll be ok, it's a conspiracy, there lying about it.” Even if you believe that these pilots are right. Wouldn’t you go with the rest to hedge your bets?” It’s true, in almost anything else we would listen to the most number of experts. So why are we debating if it is a problem caused by humans?
With all the evidence for climate change we should find a solution to slow it down. The most logical way to slow climate change is something called carbon fee and dividend. The carbon fee and dividend is a program where there is a tax on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. When burned, these fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2). The fee would be based on how much fossil fuel it would take to create 1 ton of CO2.
A major concern with switching to renewable energy is that it will drive up the price of electricity, gasoline, and products made using fossil fuels. This is a valid concern, right now renewable energy is more expensive. But, as we work harder to find more effective ways to harness these energies, they will get more effective and cheaper. Until this is the case, the dividend that is attached to the fee and is payed out to U.S. families is to help compensate for the increase in prices.
The plan laid out by the CCL says that in the first year, the carbon fee will start low, $15/per ton of CO2, and get higher by $10 each subsequent year. As the fee goes up, carbon use will go down and green energy will be more competitive and become more affordable. According to the CCL, Each American family will get 1 full dividend payment for each adult and ½ payments per child under 18 years old, with a limit of 2 children per family each month.
Another concern is that the burden of a carbon fee will cause companies to leave the U.S. This is why the Citizens Climate Lobby, CCL, is suggesting a border adjustment to help U.S. companies stay competitive globally. A border adjustment means that any goods imported from a country that does not have a carbon fee or tax would be taxed more heavily. Therefore, it would not be in a company’s best interest to move to a country without a carbon tax.
Climate change is a growing threat that we need to come together on and fix because it doesn’t matter where on the political spectrum you fall, we all live on this planet. There is no planet B. We need to take care of the one we have. A carbon fee and dividend is the most logical and reasonable solution we have. Call you elected officials and use your voice. For information on what to say and how to contact your member of Congress go to the CCL website at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/.
Work cited
Thrush, Lisa Friedman And Glenn. “U.S. Report Says Humans Cause Climate Change, Contradicting Top Trump Officials.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/climate/us-climate-report.html?_r=1.
“Citizens\' Climate Lobby.” Citizens' Climate Lobby, citizensclimatelobby.org/.
Ea, Prince. “Will This Be Humanity's Fate?” YouTube, 26 Aug. 2017, youtu.be/mRUoLarLLVA.
With all the evidence for climate change we should find a solution to slow it down. The most logical way to slow climate change is something called carbon fee and dividend. The carbon fee and dividend is a program where there is a tax on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. When burned, these fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2). The fee would be based on how much fossil fuel it would take to create 1 ton of CO2.
A major concern with switching to renewable energy is that it will drive up the price of electricity, gasoline, and products made using fossil fuels. This is a valid concern, right now renewable energy is more expensive. But, as we work harder to find more effective ways to harness these energies, they will get more effective and cheaper. Until this is the case, the dividend that is attached to the fee and is payed out to U.S. families is to help compensate for the increase in prices.
The plan laid out by the CCL says that in the first year, the carbon fee will start low, $15/per ton of CO2, and get higher by $10 each subsequent year. As the fee goes up, carbon use will go down and green energy will be more competitive and become more affordable. According to the CCL, Each American family will get 1 full dividend payment for each adult and ½ payments per child under 18 years old, with a limit of 2 children per family each month.
Another concern is that the burden of a carbon fee will cause companies to leave the U.S. This is why the Citizens Climate Lobby, CCL, is suggesting a border adjustment to help U.S. companies stay competitive globally. A border adjustment means that any goods imported from a country that does not have a carbon fee or tax would be taxed more heavily. Therefore, it would not be in a company’s best interest to move to a country without a carbon tax.
Climate change is a growing threat that we need to come together on and fix because it doesn’t matter where on the political spectrum you fall, we all live on this planet. There is no planet B. We need to take care of the one we have. A carbon fee and dividend is the most logical and reasonable solution we have. Call you elected officials and use your voice. For information on what to say and how to contact your member of Congress go to the CCL website at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/.
Work cited
Thrush, Lisa Friedman And Glenn. “U.S. Report Says Humans Cause Climate Change, Contradicting Top Trump Officials.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/climate/us-climate-report.html?_r=1.
“Citizens\' Climate Lobby.” Citizens' Climate Lobby, citizensclimatelobby.org/.
Ea, Prince. “Will This Be Humanity's Fate?” YouTube, 26 Aug. 2017, youtu.be/mRUoLarLLVA.
Project Reflection
I did my project on the climate change, more specifically the fact the carbon fee and dividend proposed by the citizens climate lobby is the most reasonable and economical solution. The carbon fee and dividend is a program where there is a tax on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. When burned, these fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2). The fee would be based on how much fossil fuel it would take to create 1 ton of CO2. My art project was the Earth melting. In the middle of exhibition I realized I should have burned the edges of the paper to represent the earth burning up. My experience at exhibition was inhibited by the fact that I was still really sick, and was running a fever. But I did have some good conversations with the other side. It also gave me some great insight into what they believe, the morals they stand for, and how those were formed. After looking at the other side I have come to realize that I have more conservative beliefs than I would have admitted at the start of the project. I have also found more respect for the other sides behalves. I also recognize that there beliefs come from a place of stability in our culture, our government, and in our economy. This project taught me that we need differing beliefs to have a functioning democracy. It also reinforced my knowledge that we need to find the middle ground. This political climate has taught me that we need to be able to have respectful dialogue to fix the things that are wrong with the country, not just yell at the other side because they are the other side. I don’t think my political beliefs have changed but I am able to recognize my beliefs, how they were formed, and where on the spectrum they fall. And then have a healthy dialogue with someone who has differing beliefs. What this project has done if make me more open to really listen to what the other side has to say. I feel that I could change my political views if for some reasons I felt that I should. Rhetoric can have a some scary side effects in a democratic society. For example Trump is in office because of the rhetoric he used in his campaign, and we can see how that's turning out. At the same time tho we need to have Rogerian rhetoric to be able to understand and work with the people in the other side of the ille. If we don’t have a “willingness to be disturbed” then all we will do is shut out the thoughts and beliefs of people who we don’t agree with.