> You say that as if it's a bad thing, but making pollution more expensive for the consumer is a good thing.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing. We should make polluting activities more expensive. But the accurate version of the statement shows why we won’t do it: most of the increased costs will be passed onto voters. Not only that, but higher gas prices dampen consumer spending and slow economic growth: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/how-higher-gas-prices-hur...

Focusing on “big evil oil companies” makes for a neat narrative, but it blinds us to reality. There is a reason Obama attacked Romney in 2012 for wanting to shut down a coal plant: https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2012/08/new-obama-... (“New Obama ad hits Romney on coal 'kills people' remarks”). There is a reason Obama still proudly takes credit for fracking: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/28/obama-takes.... He’s not doing this to appease the Exxon. He’s doing it because making polluting activities cheap is politically necessary.