Cap and Tax: Need Truth in Polling
Written by Audrie Zettick on June 25, 2009
Nancy Pelosi is leading the charge to get Democrats in Congress to rush passage of H.R. 2454–The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009-before they jet back to their districts. Let not wisdom, deliberate debate and growing public opposition stand in the way of their July vacation (and increase in their carbon footprint).
When asked innocuous questions like “do you support government regulation to reduce greenhouse gases from cars and factories,” three-quarters of Americans purportedly agree. Heck, I do when worded that way. Some members of my family have asthma–we’re sensitive to air pollution and stay inside on “ozone action days.”
When polls go on to ask pesky things such as if they’d be willing to pay more for electricity in order to reduce carbon emissions, support for Cap and Trade drops to 52%.
Of course you have to consider that in May, polls showed few people–24% of voters– even knew what cap and trade was.
Imagine if the full truth were asked. Such as if each poll respondent had to complete this estimate of the personal impact of Cap and Trade. Or if estimates for outlying years were considered (after 2012). The bill’s been watered down to minimize impact in the early years, to gain moderate Democrat support. But when you begin to estimate costs beyond 2012, the financial impact is more pronounced.
American taxpayers better gird their loins for a major change in lifestyle, if Cap and Tax passes. The Tax Foundation notes that “Lawmakers weighing the costs and benefits of climate policy should be aware that cap and trade would impose a significant and regressive annual burden on U.S. households.” With many households just getting by financially, and with the future tax burden of the bailouts on the horizon, this is ill advised.
My main concern is with the broad impact of vastly higher electricity and gas prices. President Obama has himself admitted that “electricity costs will skyrocket” under cap and trade. See video.
I can envision school taxes rising as districts deal with increased energy costs–for buildings, busing and food. I know my food bill will rise, impacted by increased energy costs for production.
The Wall Street Journal today refutes the fictional estimates recently released by the CBO. The Heritage Foundation estimates that cap and trade will cost American families $3,000 per year.
Here’s a better–and more accurate– poll question:
“Would you support an increase in your electricity, gas, school taxes, food items, clothing and general living expenses in order to cap carbon emissions?”
Or perhaps “If your costs go up $3,000 per year, what will you give up first: vacation, braces for your kids, date nights with your spouse, dental work, home renovations, car or electronics purchases.”
Now THAT would make for interesting poll results.
