After reading an article about the latest climate report, prepared by 13 government agencies, I am limp with exasperation. Some of the recommendations in the report are for limiting and taxing greenhouse gas products. Here’s the libertarian view:
No more taxes; just stop subsidizing the meat and dairy industries, which are believed to contribute 51 percent of greenhouse gases. (Do a search for a report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” read “Cowspiracy,” read “Metonomics” or do your own research on subsidies to the meat and dairy industries.) And stop subsidizing suburban development because vehicular emissions contribute another 18 percent of greenhouse gases.
If most people were forced to pay the true costs of meat, dairy and eggs, most people would become vegetarian from economic necessity. And if people were forced to pay the true costs of living in the suburbs, in single-family, detached housing on large lots, far from work, shopping, recreation and entertainment, most people would be living car-free in densely populated cities of row houses, high-rise condos or apartments, also from economic necessity.
In such a world, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
NICK KYRIAZI
Deutschtown
First Published: December 3, 2018, 5:00 a.m.
