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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  • 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!
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  • 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
    ...
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  • 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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  • 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?

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  • 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.

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  • 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?
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  • 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.

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  • 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.
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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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
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  • 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.
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  • 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?
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  • 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" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    If a republican is offering advice on taxes...RUN!
    December 30, 2012 7:12 am
    The only person he is working for are the top 1%, NOT YOU - STUPID!
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    I am supposed to trust a republican when it comes to taxes?
    December 30, 2012 7:17 am
    Republicans are willing to let the fiscal cliff swallow all of america, rather than taxing those making more than 1 million a year at the same rate those making 50K a year are taxed. They say its unfair to the ultra wealthy.
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  • rational wrote...
    fartforce1
    December 30, 2012 8:07 am
    I'd say don't trust a republican OR democrat regarding taxes. And your post suggests you're well behind the news curve. The GOP offered a bill raising taxes on those making over 1 million, which was the offer from Pelosi. Then the dems admitted they didn't really offer that honestly...it was just a false offer to make republicans look bad. If you are interested in laying blame you will be remiss if you leave democrats out of the blame circle.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    It never made it to the House floor irrational
    December 30, 2012 10:07 am
    Boner didn't have the support of his own caucus.

    The GOP never "offered" anything.

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  • rational wrote...
    William Lawn
    December 30, 2012 12:44 pm
    They offered something, it was never brought up for a vote because the republicans didn't like the lack of spending cuts and the democrats because they were lying about their support for a 1 mllion dollar threshold for the tax. As I said, don't trust the republicans or democrats...you can foolishly support one half of the same team if you wish...your choice.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    It never came up for a vote irrational
    December 30, 2012 12:48 pm
    The GOP "offered" nothing.

    Boner could have scheduled a vote, instead he adjoined the House.

    You can tell all the lies you want, it doesn't change the facts.

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  • rational wrote...
    William Lawn
    December 30, 2012 4:10 pm
    I said it never came up to a vote, you say it never came up to a vote and yet you call me a liar, and by extension claim you are a liar since we stated the same thing. stupid troll.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    It doesn't change the facts, irrational
    December 30, 2012 9:04 pm
    If it never made it to the floor, the GOP "offered" nothing.

    When losing an argument on a blog, start calling names, like you just did.

    Thanks for the laugh.

    Both times.

    I just move along again.

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