Massachusetts to consider carbon tax on gasoline, diesel fuel

After all this is a democracy.

Carbon credits creates a bizarre system that's a literal Shell game.

Better approach is the raise the gas tax, which was last raised in 1993. They most practical way to increase it today would be to "decrease" it while tying it to inflation or making it a percentage instead of a flat rate. For example, assuming the wholesale price of gas stays at $1.80 next month, House democrats could pass a bill setting the tax at 10% of wholesale, or 18-cents indexed to inflation. The 18-cent tax will be a decrease from the current 18.4-cents, at least until the price creeps up again. Politically, that might work.

This is a really great idea. Give every working stiff in Massachusetts a yellow vest to go along with the tax so that when we start rioting over this idiocy we can be readily identified.

But today, the mazurka!

Sorry -- the left prays at the "alter of Economic Justice" when they want to oppose something a developer wants to do-- can't have that Economic Justice. However, when its their own proposals that are hammering the poor and "Less than Tesla Worthy" -- well then Economic Justice plays second fiddle to the "Global Warming Concert Master."

The retired middle class [with fixed incomes and often older cars] and the hard working relatively lowly paid folks are being made to pay for the "Feel Goodness" of the "Tesla Class." Note that the lower income folks tend to have the oldest, least efficient cars and often drive the farthest to their jobs since they can't afford to live in the inner pricier suburbs.

We already subsidize the Solar Panels on roofs of the well-off, provide free and very convenient parking with a free "Cup of eJuice" for their Teslas and Leafs -- isn't that enough?
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with electric vehicles, or solar panels on your roof -- just pay for them at cost and don't expect a freebie from the rest of us.

Paris was and still might be burning because of the attitude of "Everything for Rhetorically caring about the Climate" -- but in reality -- "Damn the Consequences to the people who get steamrolled." We have today, a class of politicians espousing policies ostensibly good for the planet, or at least that might be good for fewer years in Purgatory for their other transgressions.

PS: as an example -- I've a neighbor who is very Green using our Green [$]. He sold a Internet company and then used his cash to invest in his homestead. He has a ground water heat pump [no gas or oil need apply for heat] and a couple of new Leafs [doesn't pay any gasoline taxes]. His new large house with a large roof is covered with an abundance of solar cells so many that he gets paid enough for his excess power generation that all of his electricity is "free.". Meanwhile I pay gasoline taxes on my two old Honda Civics, pay for natural gas and electricity to heat my modest house, and then those utilities are taxed to pay for my neighbor's Green life style.

The price of gas could double or triple, and most people will keep driving. Unless we stop putting so many jobs out in the suburban sprawl with no transit access, and make the Commuter Rail and buses not suck.

Cities like Seattle run buses to their suburban office parks, using HOV lanes on the highways. Why don't we?