What are the politics of climate change? A new poll done by Stanford University and Resources for the Future suggests that the public may be more ready to regulate carbon than has previously been thought. When asked if “the federal government should or should not require companies to pay a tax to the government for every ton of greenhouse gases the companies put out,” 61% of respondents said yes. That figure rose to 67% when the question was modified to provide for a revenue neutral tax the proceeds of which would be rebated through income tax reductions.
Fairly or not, Hillary Clinton has never been known for her boldness. Wouldn’t it be interesting if she supported a carbon tax and made it major issue in the campaign? Wouldn’t it be even more interesting if one of the GOP candidates did so?