News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Is your Netflix queue destroying the environment? by ars on Tuesday December 30, 2008 @07:33PM (#414897)
Except why pick carbon? There are many other pollutants I care far more about. VoC's for example (someone spray painting), smoke, NOx's, heavy metals. Trash litter. Spilled toxic fluids.

I consider those much worse than carbon.

If a pollution tax was implemented I would give the money back as cash to every person in the country. So the money would basically move in a circle, but those who are more efficient will gain.

Re:Is your Netflix queue destroying the environment? by randallsquared on Tuesday December 30, 2008 @08:09PM (#414928)
"If a pollution tax was implemented I would give the money back as cash to every person in the country. So the money would basically move in a circle, but those who are more efficient will gain."

Well, I'm predisposed against this idea, but that sounds more like an argument for than against it. If everyone's paying in proportion to their cost to others (a big 'if'), then those who cost others less should be paid more than they pay, all else equal.

Re:Is your Netflix queue destroying the environment? by emmett on Wednesday December 31, 2008 @04:31PM (#415918)
What makes you think I'd be against externalities taxes on all of the above? I think it makes much more sense to tax those things, which we don't want more of in our society, rather than say capital gains, which we do want.