Durban Climate Change Conference 2011

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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It all comes out of the same pocket, we are the government and the government is us. We will pay no matter what they decide.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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I bet they just love paying 10 cents a liter more than you do.

Not all BC residents pay more for gas than I do...Vancouver does, Victoria does not. I'm sure they didn't mind the 5% reduction in income tax on the first $70,000 of income.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
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All this carbon credit stuff and buying and selling provides profits for wall street
and nothing more. We have a consumer economy and it is not in our interests
to sign a deal that will hamper manufacturing. China, India, America, and we
will not be part of this at the end of the day regardless of how much horse trading
goes on.

Environmentalists and policymakers have known since the beginning that cap and trade was a complete scam that favours corporations. That's why it was being pushed so strongly by the corps.

A carbon tax is the only way.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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With higher cost of living they have more money? How so? It hits everyone. Even those who don't drive.

Are you fighting hard in Summerside to pay more for your energy?
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
15,441
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With higher cost of living they have more money? How so?

You're not strong in math, so let me explain. The carbon tax collects money. The act that authorizes the tax also prescribes cuts to income taxes. If the government collects 500 million in carbon tax, but gives up 600 million in income tax, then tax payers gained 100 million. The tax collected on carbon, which contributes to a higher cost of living, is less than the income retained when tax rates are cut.

This isn't rocket science. I have no idea why so many people on this forum have such a difficult time with basic mathematics...

Are you fighting hard in Summerside to pay more for your energy?
I don't live in Summerside. If PEI proposed what BC has I absolutely would vote for that.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Why? Why would you actually vote for infaltion? Why would you make your own products more expensive to the get to market? You're a producer man. Give your head a shake.

With an average income of $2000 in BC I bet the last ****ing thing on their minds is blowing $6K on a new furnace to make moonbeams feel good about themselves.

After rent that leaves $2000 to eat and get around for a year.

What the **** do you want form people? First borns too?
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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Why? Why would you actually vote for infaltion? Why would you make your own products more expensive to the get to market? You're a producer man. Give your head a shake.

If inflation is offset with an equal increase in after tax income then there is no change. It's no different than employment where wage growth is tied to inflation. More to the point, after the tax scheme changes like this, people can make choices that result in less overall taxes paid.

Like I said, I knew math wasn't your strong suit. I guess I may have even over-estimated your mathematical aptitude.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Taxes paid? How much in taxes does someone earning $2000 a month pay? Is that enough to use the 5% credit? What is better mathematically? Getting a 5% tax credit or getting hit with 10% inflation?
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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Taxes paid? How much in taxes does someone earning $2000 a month pay? Is that enough to use the 5% credit? What is better mathematically? Getting a 5% tax credit or getting hit with 10% inflation?

Try your calculator and see for yourself. By the way, for your information it's $25 per tonne of CO2, not 10% inflation. BC actually has lower price changes than the rest of this Federation:

Latest release from the Consumer Price Index. Friday, November 18, 2011
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Moving
You're not strong in math, so let me explain. The carbon tax collects money. The act that authorizes the tax also prescribes cuts to income taxes. If the government collects 500 million in carbon tax, but gives up 600 million in income tax, then tax payers gained 100 million. The tax collected on carbon, which contributes to a higher cost of living, is less than the income retained when tax rates are cut.

This isn't rocket science. I have no idea why so many people on this forum have such a difficult time with basic mathematics...

I don't live in Summerside. If PEI proposed what BC has I absolutely would vote for that.

One math point - You trust the Govt to make those refunds equal. We do not. It is not the math we have problems with - Well mostly. Many realize a CO tax is coming.

CO Tax raises the price of food. The poor use more of their income on food then someone making 100 K shall we say.
Same would apply to rent, gas, heating oil etc.


In Europe they have a CO trading scheme - It has been found to have many problems including massive fraud.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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One math point - You trust the Govt to make those refunds equal. We do not.

Yes, idratherbeskiing already mentioned that, and I showed him already that BC's carbon tax scheme has returned more tax than it has collected. The refunds aren't equal, BC as a result is paying less in taxes than they were before the carbon tax was implemented.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Moving
Yes, idratherbeskiing already mentioned that, and I showed him already that BC's carbon tax scheme has returned more tax than it has collected. The refunds aren't equal, BC as a result is paying less in taxes than they were before the carbon tax was implemented.

So how do you address the issue of the poor paying more based upon income? Returning more is fine. But it is better to provide for those that are more in need than others is my opinion. And I am one of the others as I have a good income stream.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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In Europe they have a CO trading scheme - It has been found to have many problems including massive fraud.

Yes, it's a cap and trade, which is different from a simple tax like BC's carbon tax. In Europe, some companies have to buy emissions permits, while others were given permits for free. So some companies were basically given money for nothing. It's a system that can be gamed by giving favourable treatment to favourable industries.

It should be no wonder then that when Canada does talk about pricing carbon, Harper et al. have said they would like to introduce a cap and trade scheme. They have already said basically that the Athabasca projects would get a free ride as an exempted industry.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
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In Europe they have a CO trading scheme - It has been found to have many problems including massive fraud.

Rule for the day.

Government (no matter how seedy) is more trustworthy than corporations.