Evolution and Christianity and Salvation

[The Grand Nudger]

Really protests and lighting things on fire don't work to change policy? I wouldn't have ever guessed that. </sarcasm> It's exactly my point. Lining companies pockets by taxation slowly doesn't work, and neither does rioting, burning things and hurting people because of a steep increase in price.

Taxes must be increased slowly to prevent riots is your actual point. The fact is taxes don't HAVE to be increased at all. It's not proven that throwing more money at something stops people from getting that thing, much less it's effect on where that money goes. What has been shown repeatedly is that taxing commodities benefits the rich. Benefits to the rich increase the likelihood of lobbyists for policies that continue to make them rich. By taxing gas, slowly or steeply, it just hurts the less wealthy and benefits the wealthy, and probably exacerbates the initial problem. Taxes on commodities hurt the populous, fines and regulation hinder companies. Not that there isn't some bleed over but generally doesn't that hold true?

With respect to the specific taxes in question, carbon taxes, it actually has proven to work, and the fears that this would tank an economy or hurt the poor appear to have been unfounded.

Poor implementation certainly could make it unworkable, or hurt the poor.  That's the case with just about anything, ofc. The difference between instances in which it does what it's supposed to do and those when it doesn't (or causes some other issue) appear to revolve around implementation and educating the public. Mostly because a well implemented but poorly communicated plan can work and still cause social unrest. Gotta hand-hold some people all the way to their own better interests.

Public dialogue being a determining factor, competent doubt merchants seek to undermine confidence as this is the most effective route to sabotaging any effort at a change that would not benefit their employers. It's also, honestly, the only way they -can- accomplish their goals, as they're incapable of altering reality in the way that they can manage perception.