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Bob Inglis is a guy who believes climate change is real, humans are partly responsible, and therefore it is time for a tax on carbon. (2010 AP Photo/File)

Suppose we taxed income less, and carbon more?

BY Dave Ross  on December 28, 2012 @ 10:18 am (Updated: 10:36 am - 12/28/12 )

Bob Inglis is a former Republican senator from South Carolina-- and how conservative is he?

"You're taking to a guy who at a 93 percent American Conservative rating; 100 percent Christian Coalition; 100 percent National Right to Life," explains Inglis.

He voted for Romney, he would have voted for Santorum. Yet here's a guy who believes climate change is real, humans are partly responsible, and therefore it is time for a tax on carbon.

Says Inglis, "Yes, a tax swap. Let's put a tax on something we want less of and un-tax something we want more of."

Which would mean, for example, slap a tax on carbon, which we want less of, and remove the tax on corporate income, or the tax on payroll income, since income is something we want more of.

Sounds logical, but there might be some push-back, because in practice he admits, "It does cause the price of gas to go up, it does cause the cost of electricity to go up."

But suppose if in exchange, you cut the payroll tax, which every wage earner hates? It might fly. I've often suggested taking the next step in using the free market to make better decisions -- paying for our presence in the Persian Gulf by adding the cost of the Fifth Fleet to the price of gas, since that's why we're really there. But Congressman Inglis says there's a limit to the support for this kind of radical honesty in Congress.

"It's a very small luncheon at this point but as someone said of the financial crisis - it's interesting how the impossible can go to the inevitable without ever passing through the probable," says Inglis.

Congressman Bob Inglis: hoping that one day there will be room in the economic debate for a little imagination.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (91)


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  • tlmbrt wrote...
    NEVER TRUST
    December 29, 2012 7:27 am
    the government. They would bait and switch. Once the "carbon tax" started, they would find a way to bring back the income tax (and others) too. Tax laws are used to reward friends and supporters, and to punish enemies and detractors....
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  • tlmbrt wrote...
    How about
    December 29, 2012 7:42 am
    downsizing the government, leaving only defense and basic services like fire and police? Then taxes would be almost eliminated. Most taxes are used to reward and punish, and drive social agendas!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    tlmbrt wrote... How about leaving only defense and basic services like fire and police?
    December 29, 2012 7:48 am
    Great idea, but we won't need fire or police since we won't have any roads for them to drive on to get to our house.
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  • deltta wrote...
    doesn't the gas tax cover that?
    December 29, 2012 8:37 am
    ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    timbrt
    December 29, 2012 10:11 am
    Wonder what "your America"(Mexico,Somalia?) would look like? I rather like the one we have taxes,debt and all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • circuitfr wrote...
    messiah...
    December 29, 2012 10:32 am
    that's the big myth. You and most people act like roads wouldn't exist without big government...."You didn't build that, someone else did" I'm pretty sure the private sector could handle those just fine as well. If businesses want to thrive, they need infrastructure. The roads would of been built anyway....
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  • Forrest wrote...
    Good plan circuitfr
    December 29, 2012 12:18 pm
    I can see it now if private entities built our roads. Your wife is dying and you want to get her to the hospital? Oh you want to use our road? How much you willing to pay? What if company A built the road and is in competition with company B. Do you think company A is going to let B use the road?What about the farmer with his crops in the truck on the way to market. I bet he would pay extra. Your plan doesn't pass the smell test.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    The fact is that MOST road milage is privately paved and developed NOW.
    December 29, 2012 3:17 pm
    Every subdivision - even up to over 1000 homes - the streets are out in by the builders. Same with short plats for access and in a lot of cases you are required to bring a road to county standards even if it does prior exist.

    What we do need government for (and we do) is for the interconnecting roads and arterials. And, of course, the interstates. ... And that gets complicated because of expenses and liabilities. Hit a pothole on a private freeway, and then big time law suit. But break an axle on I-5, SOL

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    circuitfr
    December 29, 2012 4:05 pm
    "pretty sure" doesn't float the boat.You mentioned 1 thing that private business might pick up but their are 100s of things. By the way check out the tolls that privately owned hiways charge
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    messiah
    December 29, 2012 11:16 am
    Mogadishu and parts of Detroit are similar in alot of ways.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    deltta
    December 29, 2012 4:04 pm
    Be more specific.Do they BOTH have baseball teams named the Tigers?Is the auto industry the backbone of Somalia?What are you getting at?
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Mess 101
    December 29, 2012 5:02 pm
    Think of the old Packard plant and a bombed out neighborhood , Mkay
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Being a Detroit kid, I watched the Tigers in the Series this year.........
    December 30, 2012 6:25 am
    Deltta could be right.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    And your entitlements?
    December 30, 2012 10:16 am
    Yes, you left that out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    $7.00 a gallon gasoline and your gashog pickup truck that you use to commute with.
    December 29, 2012 11:37 am
    Even the article states Sounds logical, but there might be some push-back, because in practice he admits, "It does cause the price of gas to go up, it does cause the cost of electricity to go up." (Get ready for high gas prices , it's the Democrat's dream just like "going over the cliff" Win-Win , higher taxes for everybody . the Military hobbled , the price of milk will be a harbinger for gasoline , Europe pays $8.00 a gallon you will too.That evil gasoline from "Big Oil adds C02" to the atmosphere.Obama was not kidding when he said he would "fundamentally transform America"The reason a big run on Assault rifles is happening is people know the dung is gonna hit the fan.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Ron Spins
    December 29, 2012 4:07 pm
    Hold on to something Ronnie because the world is passing you by at a rapid rate. Ever thought that we Americans have subsidized gas and that we are not paying close to the cost of getting that gas to the pump?
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Mess 101 , No one is more cognizant of subsidized gasoline than me.
    December 29, 2012 4:27 pm
    Mkay
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Ron Spins
    December 29, 2012 6:06 pm
    If your indeed "cognizant of subsidized gasoline" then why would $8+ gas surprise you?Frankly your post showed you had NO CLUE that we get gas at a subsidized discount
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Mess 101
    December 29, 2012 6:11 pm
    You are incorrect again , Sir
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  • wrsawy12 wrote...
    GREAT
    December 29, 2012 2:15 pm
    Awesome, more tax breaks for the rich, just what we need.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    wrsawy12
    December 29, 2012 4:21 pm
    Pop quiz...when someone earns a paycheck, whose money is it?

    What we have is a spending problem. The raising of taxes is intended to be punitive, not economic...the amount being talked about will only run the gov't for 8 days. It's all a diversion from the reality...we need to cut spending drastically. If we did that and were just a little short then how about we look at raising taxes at that point?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Great sources irrational
    December 29, 2012 4:37 pm
    Breitbart, Newsmax, The Blaze?

    If your employer give you a $1000 a year raise, how many days would that run your household?

    The straw man arrives.

    As usual.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    William Lawn
    December 29, 2012 5:06 pm
    From now on we need the sources for all of your "opinions", Mkay.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    "We" do?
    December 29, 2012 5:30 pm
    Are you French?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Who to believe? Who to believe?
    December 29, 2012 6:20 pm
    You?

    Irrational?

    Or

    158 CEOs from major corporations, all members of the influential Business Roundtable, signed a letter to Obama and Congress voicing support for tax revenue "whether by increasing rates, eliminating deductions, or some combination thereof." The stance put them at odds with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the Senate's Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, who repeatedly have voiced opposition to raising tax rates. The CEOs also called for more spending cuts than Obama. But the stance on rates was notable for the number of signatories the letter attracted, including Republican allies like Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman, who endorsed Mitt Romney for president, and Rex Tillerson, Exxon's CEO, and Michael Duke, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The Business Roundtable's president is Michigan's former Republican governor, John Engler.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    He's got a point, Lawnboy.
    December 30, 2012 6:30 am
    You're always asking others for THEIR sources. ..But until MYNW lets us link to web sites, I doubt most will actually check sources.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    As Flounder always says, Mr. ron
    December 30, 2012 9:57 am
    Google is your friend.

    I did check irrational's claim.

    Some Georgia Congressman claimed that the proposed tax increase would only run the government for 8 days and it is being touted in RWNJ media.

    100% straw man.

    How many days would a $1000 a year pay increase run your household?

    BTW, are you are asking for my source of the above quote about the 158 CEO's?

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  • rational wrote...
    William Lawn
    December 30, 2012 12:37 pm
    I did check irrational's claim.

    Some Georgia Congressman claimed that the proposed tax increase would only run the government for 8 days and it is being touted in RWNJ media.

    So then you confirmed my statement was accurate. You may disagree as to the value of such a small change in revenue, but my statement was accurate.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    I confirmed no such thing, irrational
    December 30, 2012 1:15 pm
    Because some Georgia Congressman says it and The Blaze publishes it, doesn't make it so.

    But lit us dig a little deeper, irrational.

    If it funds government spending for 8 days as the Congressman claims that is ABOUT 2%.

    If you got a chance to increase revenue to your household by 2% would you turn it down because it would only fund the irrational family for 8 days?

    You are making a 100% Straw Man argument and we both know it.

    I'll move along here.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    William Lawn
    December 30, 2012 8:16 pm
    If you got a chance to increase revenue to your household by 2% would you turn it down because it would only fund the irrational family for 8 days?

    As usual you don't grasp the issue. If I need enough money to cover more than 146 days just to break even and I try to argue that I don't need to address my spending problem and enough salary increase to cover 8 days is adequate then I'd be a liar and a fool...and that is the democrats exact strategy. No strawman, reality...at least if you grasp the actual issues.

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  • logical open mind wrote...
    what a silly non point. wade in sometimes instead of alwalys merely poking a stick
    December 31, 2012 6:12 pm
    it's predictable
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    rational
    December 29, 2012 6:14 pm
    Answer to your "POP QUIZ"the money you end up with after paying your bills is your money bills need to be paid and Uncle Sam gets paid FIRST."Pay unto Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is Gods".In fact Caesar gets paid before GOD according to the Bible.No the Tax on the Rich is to even the score abit I don't care if its 8 days or 1 hr.The middle class has contributed the blood that keeps the USA FREE so why not expect the wealthy to pay $$$ because its not their sons and daughters who die for their country its the middle class and the poor
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  • deltta wrote...
    The middle class has contributed the blood that keeps the USA FREE so why not expect the wealthy to pay $$$ because its not their sons and daughters who die for their country its the middle class and the poor
    December 29, 2012 6:43 pm
    Really? I'm 3rd generation USN/USMC. My Grandfather was an IWO marine, My father Gra duated from the Navel Academy in 196 5 and flew combat missions in SE Asia thru the early 70's and I was an above average forklift driver for the Navy.My family would be considered by most to be wealthy. You sir need to pull your head in and stop saying stupid S_H_I_T.
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  • deltta wrote...
    Don't know why there are spaces
    December 29, 2012 7:21 pm
    And it's Naval with an "a". Thats what you get when you post while mad....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    why get wraped around the axle over spelling on a blog
    December 31, 2012 6:15 pm
    why?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    messiah101
    December 29, 2012 9:18 pm
    I don't care if its 8 days or 1 hr.

    You just proved my statement...it is a punitive action, not a financial action. You are greedy and you are jealous of those who have more than you. The problem is yours.

    And our problem are people like you, as well as the government that immorally spends far, far more than we can pay for...so they resort to robbing our children and grandchildren until the whole mess will eventually collapse. So much for the honesty of the left calling for things to be "sustainable"....you don't give a rip about sustainablity as long as you get yours now...screw our children is the leftist cry.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    ron prevost - SOL? . . . .
    December 29, 2012 4:36 pm
    I asked mommy she told me to ask you. So SOL?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    common, CH
    December 30, 2012 6:34 am
    ... Out of Luck. ...

    No, not shinola

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Robert_C wrote...
    Really....
    December 29, 2012 6:25 pm
    Just another increadile stupid idea by an politician. How unusual.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Is it just me
    December 29, 2012 7:09 pm
    Or does bill need to have his caregiver at the rest home in Sequim a heads up that his spell check is not working. Can't be a credible poster if you can't spell, bill, not that you have much to say anyway, but spelling is a big part of being credible. You are such a world traveler, famous person, a legend in your own mind, it would be a shame to tarnish your image with a few misspelled words here and there, one might think you are not what you say you are. Could that be true? Tell us the truth bill, are you just a regular person that has a huge ego and somewhat less than average persona?
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    u r an elitist fool to put any creadance into spelling on a blog?
    December 31, 2012 6:16 pm
    focus on the point as this is not a term paper!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Ahh! The Left wing Parrot on these boards.
    December 29, 2012 7:46 pm
    You Parrots here are a riot. Accuse us of not having any brain. Well brainyachs, who here did what they were programmed to do and give the Dear Leader four more years and those of us Americans who voted to change this. You Parrots and your Dear Leader own ALL of this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    Good lord he even looks like a nut
    December 29, 2012 9:04 pm
    You had to go all the way to South Carolina to find a walnut?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Left wing Parrots
    December 30, 2012 6:55 am
    How is your Dear Leaders economy? That unemployment down to 5.4 yet?

    How is that sweet taste of revenge Parrots?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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