Re:Carbon dioxide now more than 50% higher than pre-industri...
by giantg2 on Monday June 06, 2022 @10:52AM
(#31641234)
And it's likely that the diesel trucks contribute the most die to fuel type, miles driven, etc. So cost to individual personal vehicles would likely be low, while the price of goods shipped via trucks would increase to offset those taxes.
Sure, but what most people mean when they say they have a "right" to something is that they are entitled to that thing without strings attached.
Also, there are factual disagreements about what the externalities of driving actually are. For example, should you have to pay for the people who suffer respiratory illnesses because of vehicle emissions? The cost of accidents? By what mechanism should these costs be assessed and payment made? How should the costs be distributed? If I drive 5000 miles a year should I pay the same as someone who drives 10,000? And how exactly do you assess the cost of moving the needle on an existential threat by a teeny tiny bit?
And just look at people's reaction to the recent increases in the cost of gas! They are indignant, outraged, because they think that they are entitled to cheap gas. It's their right.
"Pay for the externalities" is a fine principle, but very hard to put into practice.