You were less astute when talking about nuke and space program CO2 emissions. I have no idea what you were talking about there.

Further, I am careful not to say “carbon tax” unless talking to someone who knows exactly what I mean. Instead, I say “fossil fuel fee” or just “fossil fee”.

Finally, put to rest all the listeners’ fears about socialist conspiracy by advocating a *revenue-neutral* carbon tax solution. Or, put just as correctly but more clearly to people: A Phased-in Fossil Fuel Fee with 100% equal Tax Cut.

The fee is what we’ve been calling a carbon tax, and the Tax Cut, in order to be equalized across the population, will have to include a Tax Credit for some people, which is only one step away from simply sending carbon rebate checks. It’s all the same thing, but I say it in a way that Libertarians, Southerners, and Tea Partiers will actually *hear* me.

For one thing, if carbon emissions do cause global warming, then nuclear power plants do cause global warming, because they too have carbon emissions, albeit a lot less than plants running on coal.

Likewise, in the same vein of thought, the space program also causes global warming because it creates carbon emissions as well. Heck, so do we all when we breathe and talk.

I think you misunderstand what the word cause means. Perhaps you should get away from framing it as “cause” and “not cause” to “cause significantly more” and “cause significantly less”?

And it is a fact that the sun is much hotter now than it was before. Why is it inconceivable that this could have an effect on the earth’s temperature? There are plenty of scientists who believe this is part of the equation, and one doesn’t have to be a hardcore scientist to appreciate the logic.

If you’re not willing to consider all these pieces, I worry that you may be just as closed-minded as the Rush Limbaugh you are lambasting.

Either radical action is necessary soon or no action at all is necessary save for some basic research on alternative energy. Depends on the speed of the warming. These rinky dink measures like changing light bulbs are just indoctrination.

but great post, Susan.. interesting stuff and hopefully you helped clear up some issues for folks!