TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
bobinglis_ap980.jpg
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 (75)


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  • deltta wrote...
    How about cutting spending?
    December 28, 2012 10:08 am
    Foreign aid?
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Everything is carbon based even Dave Ross.(and his Prius):0!
    December 28, 2012 10:40 am
    The carbon scam.Since the greenhouse has recently been scientifically debunked that means C02 also has been removed from the spotlight as the cause of global warming. Dave Ross pines about making money(scamming)but his party elected the wrong guy (more of the same obama)and we have pure garbage like his administrations E.P.A head Lisa Jackson and her Left wing drivel and fake E-Mail accounts to hide their distortions and economy killing regulations. http://www.nationalreview.com/planet-gore/336534/jacksons-destructive-crusade-henry-payne#
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    Yeah.. how about cutting spending
    December 28, 2012 1:01 pm
    More political insanity... but maybe we should spend some money to see if there's a specific gene in politicians and if there is... I'm willing to pay an additional 20% in taxes to have them committed...
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Still yet the "Fiscal Cliff Focus" is tax the "rich" which will run the government for 8 days.
    December 28, 2012 2:44 pm
    Yes you heard it right the government is so big "taxing the rich" will only sustain the government for eight days.I had to repeat it because Democrats seem kinda slow.
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  • TwoTrees wrote...
    deltta wrote: 'How about cutting spending?'
    December 28, 2012 2:56 pm
    Good God, man! Are you insane!?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Lets tax campaign donations at 95%.
    December 28, 2012 5:12 pm
    Then the politions won't feel bad about fundraising! (please read sarcasm)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Are you really that ignorant Dave?
    December 28, 2012 5:36 pm
    You've utilized a falacious argument known as an appeal to authority. So because this guy has a high rating with some groups it automatically means he's correct regarding climate change?

    Come back when you have a real argument in favor of AGW.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Dave, are you so stuck on your Obama/leftist talking points that you no longer even think?
    December 28, 2012 6:55 pm
    What happened to that fair minded crusader for common sense that occupied you chair before you ran for office? Before Luke took you even more into the land of Oz?

    In case you hadn't noticed, the payroll tax is ALREADY cur in half. That's one of the reasons Social Security is no longer solvent. ... That along with 'borrowing' from the Social Security find, refusing to remove the cap on payments and not legalizing undocumented workers who could give that Social Security fund a real shot in the are.

    But, yah, let's turn SSI into just another unfunded program so we can tax evil oil, or carbon, or whatever is out of favor this year. ... It all makes sense - if you keep to the talking points.

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  • logical open mind wrote...
    the crusaders for common sense packed up quite some time ago. Evidence=
    December 28, 2012 7:19 pm
    no common sense person always, virtually always drinks the kool aid of any president.
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  • MarinerDaddy wrote...
    Fair minded crusader for common sense?
    December 29, 2012 1:16 pm
    The disease of liberalsim destroyed that many years ago.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    The idea makes sense if you're a republican.
    December 29, 2012 5:10 am
    Tax people who have to commute to work while the wealthy stay at home and receive their dividend checks by mail, tax free.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Carbon Footprint?
    December 29, 2012 7:20 am
    You want to tax carbon? Well then you better start taxing the real root cause of the carbon demand which is people. We humans are the generators of much of the carbon that may or may not be a cause of global warming. Unless someone comes out and says population control is necessary to control it I for one won't think the scientists are serious. If that is the case then maybe all the people on welfare should be the first to get sterilized after two children. Goes for the baby daddy too!! Snip Snip
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  • 2112 wrote...
    Agreed
    December 30, 2012 10:11 am
    But those who desire a full-on welfare state understand that you always need population growth to feed the machine.
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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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