Astonishingly, some people aren't as perceptive as Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion, and think that a carbon tax is a complex plan that will negatively affect a lot of people.

In Ireland, the leader of the Green Party and the Minister for the Environment in the coalition government, John Gormley, has dropped plans for a carbon tax for exactly such reasons.

This the second time the goverment in Ireland has been forced to step back from implementing a carbon tax.

Why?  Who knows?  The reasons given make no sense.  Don't they know that this tax is simple to implement, makes everyone richer, eliminates poverty, has no effect on rural voters, and saves the environment?

That's what Stephane Dion has been explaining to Canadians.  Maybe he needs to give John Gormley a call and explain it to him.

Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so. 

Let's have a quick primer of the current political situation in the Republic of Ireland.  The largest party, Fianna Fail, is roughly equivalent to Canada's Liberal Party -- generally centrist with a tilt to the left.  Joining Fianna Fail is the Progressive Democrats (economically centrist favouring private enterprise and low taxes) and the Green Party to form the governing coalition.

In forming the coalition government, the environment file was given to the leader of the Green Party, John Gormley.

Hey, the Green Party in charge of setting environmental legislation?  Backed by the largest political party in Ireland? 

Let's bring on the carbon tax!

Not so fast.  For some reason, John Gormley could not figure out how to make a carbon tax work:

No carbon tax will be imposed in the forthcoming Budget, despite worsening emissions rates in this country and a promise to introduce the measure in the Programme for Government.

The Green Party is privately conceding that the measure is off the table for the December Budget -- the second year in a row that consumers will escape.

A spokesman for the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, said last night that the matter was complex, and the party was seeking to introduce carbon pricing in a "holistic" way that would achieve equity but also prove effective across the economy.

Complex?  What's so complex about it?  Stephane Dion insists a carbon tax is simple and straightforward:

“The green shift plan is a very simple idea,” Dion said. “We will tax you on less of what you want more of – your income, savings and investments – and put taxes towards what you want less of – greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and waste.”

It's so simple.  Everyone is richer by letting the government tax us and give the money back. 

"Every taxpayer will be better off. That's the Dion goal," said Liberal MP Garth Turner, who's been helping with the communications strategy for the plan.

And the environment is saved.  You'd have to be a fool not to understand how that would work.

Perhaps Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion ought to call John Gormley and explain how everyone wins with a carbon tax.

But then this isn't the first time the Irish had trouble with this simple and foolproof plan:

The carbon tax is still on the agenda after the junior Coalition partner forced its inclusion in the Programme for Government. Former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy had promised to impose a carbon tax -- which would have impacted on petrol and diesel prices in particular -- but shelved the idea under political pressure.

Political pressure?

Fianna Fail believe they may have blunted the Green Party drive to make the polluter pay for emissions, despite the recent rebalancing of car tax rates, by emphasising the need to protect vulnerable sections of society.

What is this about protecting vulnerable sections of society?  All you do is give more money to the poor, funded by the same carbon tax that is making everyone else richer.  Stephane Dion's version of the carbon tax will fund programs that will eliminate poverty in Canada.

Dion's previously announced proposals for reducing poverty by 30 per cent - and child poverty by 50 per cent - in five years will also be wrapped into the carbon tax plan. Those proposals include enriching the working income and child tax benefits, extending the child tax credit and raising the Guaranteed Income Supplement for the poorest seniors.

From the top.  The carbon tax eliminates poverty, makes everyone richer, and saves the environment. 

And you don't even have to tax gasoline to make it work!

What is it that the Irish don't understand?  Come on, Stephane Dion, pick up the phone.  Make the call.  Tell John Gormley exactly what you've been telling us.  I'm certain you can clear up John Gormley's misunderstanding on how complex a carbon tax is, and he'll have it implemented it in a week, two on the outside. 

It would be only a matter of time before the Irish start getting richer and the air clears up.  And no more poor people!

Maybe the Irish are being distracted by false information:

Meanwhile, a new report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimates that a carbon levy could cost households €208 a year.

A levy would weigh disproportionately on rural households, according to the report, since houses are bigger, distances longer and more transport involves the use of cars in rural areas.

What is wrong with these people?  If rural voters are likely to be disproportionately affected, then create a special tax rebate for them funded by the carbon tax.

Beausejour Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc said any Liberal gas-tax plan will include measures to help offset the financial pinch felt by farmers, truckers, fishers and seniors on fixed incomes.

"We want to make sure that these people aren't hurt," he said.

Once more, and pay attention this time.  The carbon tax offsets the added burden suffered by rural voters, eliminates poverty, makes everyone richer, and saves the environment. 

Geez, it's not like John Gormley has to add yet more rebates for people in the Far North like Stephane Dion has to.  But then the carbon tax solves their problems too!

While at the same time helping rural people, eliminating poverty, making everyone richer, and saving the environment.  You know the drill.

Someone points out a problem that needs solving.  Show how the carbon tax solves that problem while saving the environment.  Repeat as necessary until you win an election.

Stephane Dion should be able to explain all this to John Gormley.  Come on, Stephane Dion, email a copy of the carbon tax plan to John Gormley.   The secret to solving all problems with a single simple tax is in there.

Sarcasm Alert:  Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:59 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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