Carbon Footprint Reduction Hogwash

Something that is most dismaying to analyze through the filter of principle power is government policy--in particular, energy policy. One could say that when we (by "we" I mean our public representatives as policy-makers) voice a concern over something, we are declaring a core value. For example, there are multiple directives from government, at both National and State levels, to reduce carbon emissions and so forth. One significant source of carbon emissions is gasoline powered cars and trucks. Yet, despite these clarion cries to reduce emissions, and hearing in congress now regarding electrical utility price-setting, there is no real power behind the words.

If the government was really intent on reducing the amount of carbon emissions created by Americans driving cars they would take severe action in several key areas; Of course, they would be major upsets to the world of car ownership and maintenance and would breathe fear into the oil companies. Amongst those steps would be:

- Increase federal gasoline taxes to at least the level imposed in Europe.
- Increase federal mandates for mass transit usage (this would include penalties for lack of investment or usage within States and municipalities).
- Increase the tax on automobile purchases
- Create enormous tax breaks for auto and other manufacturers who create non-carbon emitting vehicles (hybrids are not non-carbon emitting--they simply transfer the emission from the exhaust pipe back to the power plant).

Of course, this would require courage beyond that possessed by any current leaders. Ultimately, the stranglehold that foreign oil has on us will lead to the same place--but it will take longer and make us victims rather than causal agents. CIBC economists are predicting oil barrels in excess of $100 by the end of 2008. That translates into about $4 a gallon says Richard T. Stuebi, BP Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement at The Cleveland Foundation. The comparative rate charged for a gallon of gasoline in Europe vs here demonstrates the marked difference in the actions of a government paying lip service to reducing greenhouse gases to those that mean what they say. Currently, with average gas prices in the US at $3.01, the comparable price per gallon today is $7.37 in Belgium, $6.88 in Germany and $7.45 in the United Kingdom.

What we really learn from the lack of consistent public policy is that the claim of concern for reducing carbon emissions is, like so much in politics today, hot air.