The Big Tech Companies
My colleague Fritz Maffry writes: Craig knows my thesis is that the tech firms will transform energy and transportation, and are much closer to this in large scale disruption than is commonly appreciated. I intend to help them do that.
You’re right, Fritz; this is happening, though not at the rate that our civilization needs. My only issue with the tech companies is that so little of their efforts are aimed at environmental issues. Of course, that’s a function of the fact that corporate executives have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to maximize profits, and, in most cases, that’s more easily achieved with phone apps, social media, etc.
It is for this reason that, unless we put a price on carbon, we’re doomed. The best approach here, as I’ve mentioned frequently, is Carbon Fee and Dividend.
Craig,
I’m afraid the idea of carbon taxes has passed the ‘used by’ date. The experience of such taxes proves to produce no real benefits, while being actually counter-productive to both the economy and environment.
lol. how interesting.
Craig,
Despite your sarcasm, being Australian I’ve actually witnessed the effects of a fail Carbon Tax.
Although the idea sounds great when contemplated through the prism of idealism, like many ‘punitive’ methods employed by governments (the Volstead Act is a good example) the ‘cure’ becomes worse than the disease !
At the best it becomes just another expensive bureaucratic boondoggle, or at worst (as in Europe) these sort of schemes end with corruption on a grand scale.
Imposing ‘punitive’ taxes to achieve policies always results in little, or no, benefits and creates bitter divide between those who demand ‘moral’ solutions (no matter how useless) and those who try to be efficient and objective.
Governments are better supporting incentives with sunset clauses to encourage development of new and cleaner technology.