Capsize and Trade
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on March 27th, 2010 4:51 am by HL
Capsize and Trade
Cap and trade was all the rage back in 2009, with the market-driven system of curbing emissions seen as a dominant force in addressing global warming problems. Now the concept has seemingly fallen out of favor. For years, many on the left have criticized cap and trade as just a way for corporations to fake offsets and do little to curb the root causes of environmental degradation. Yet government officials seem to be listening only to right-wing, tea-party protesters, who have effectively labeled cap and trade as “cap and tax” as they rail against any kind of climate change plan—shunning even an admission of climate change’s existence. Now, a bipartisan bill—led by Sens. Lindsay Graham, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman—is likely to be introduced in April with no mention of the cap and trade scheme. —JCL The New York Times: Less than a year ago, cap and trade was the policy of choice for tackling climate change. Environmental groups and their foes in industry joined hands to embrace the approach, a market-driven system that sets a ceiling on global warming pollution while allowing companies to trade permits to meet it. President Obama praised it by name in his first budget, and the authors of the House climate and energy bill passed last June largely built their measure around it. Today, the concept is in wide disrepute, with opponents effectively branding it “cap and tax,” and Tea Party followers using it as a symbol of much of what they say is wrong with Washington. Mr. Obama dropped all mention of cap and trade from his current budget. And the sponsors of a Senate climate bill likely to be introduced in April, now that Congress is moving past health care, dare not speak its name. Read more
Cap and trade was all the rage back in 2009, with the market-driven system of curbing emissions seen as a dominant force in addressing global warming problems. Now the concept has seemingly fallen out of favor.
For years, many on the left have criticized cap and trade as just a way for corporations to fake offsets and do little to curb the root causes of environmental degradation. Yet government officials seem to be listening only to right-wing, tea-party protesters, who have effectively labeled cap and trade as “cap and tax” as they rail against any kind of climate change plan—shunning even an admission of climate change’s existence.
Now, a bipartisan bill—led by Sens. Lindsay Graham, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman—is likely to be introduced in April with no mention of the cap and trade scheme.? —JCL
The New York Times:
Less than a year ago, cap and trade was the policy of choice for tackling climate change.
Environmental groups and their foes in industry joined hands to embrace the approach, a market-driven system that sets a ceiling on global warming pollution while allowing companies to trade permits to meet it. President Obama praised it by name in his first budget, and the authors of the House climate and energy bill passed last June largely built their measure around it.
Today, the concept is in wide disrepute, with opponents effectively branding it “cap and tax,” and Tea Party followers using it as a symbol of much of what they say is wrong with Washington.
Mr. Obama dropped all mention of cap and trade from his current budget. And the sponsors of a Senate climate bill likely to be introduced in April, now that Congress is moving past health care, dare not speak its name.
Related Entries
- March 19, 2010 ‘Left, Right & Center’: Deeming or Redeeming?; Health Care Gets Critical
- February 26, 2010 ‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Huddle, Goldman/Greece
Sunni Side Up
Results from Iraq’s March 7 parliamentary election have come in, bringing news that a predominately Sunni opposition alliance has taken the majority of the country’s legislative body and ended seven years of Shiite domination. The Shiite power lock began after the U.S. deposed President Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003. The opposition victory could test the country’s “democratic” character, as Shiite politicians more or less promised violence if defeated. Sunnis make up only about 20 percent of Iraq’s population. —JCL The Wall Street Journal: Ayad Allawi’s predominantly Sunni alliance has won Iraq’s national election, narrowly edging out Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s list to become the largest bloc in the country’s next parliament. The upset threatens to end the lock on power that Iraq’s majority Shiites have enjoyed since the 2003 after decades of oppression under Saddam Hussein and could severely test the country’s fragile institutions. Before the announcement, Shiite politicians warned of violence should their parties lose the election. The preliminary results announced Friday night show Mr. Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc winning 91 seats in the 325-member parliament to 89 seats for Mr. Maliki’s State of Law. In a hastily convened press conference, the prime minister announced he would press for a recount, citing suspicions of fraud. Read more
Results from Iraq’s March 7 parliamentary election have come in, bringing news that a predominately Sunni opposition alliance has taken the majority of the country’s legislative body and ended seven years of Shiite domination.
The Shiite power lock began after the U.S. deposed President Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003.
The opposition victory could test the country’s “democratic” character, as Shiite politicians more or less promised violence if defeated. Sunnis make up only about 20 percent of Iraq’s population. —JCL
The Wall Street Journal:
Ayad Allawi’s predominantly Sunni alliance has won Iraq’s national election, narrowly edging out Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s list to become the largest bloc in the country’s next parliament.
The upset threatens to end the lock on power that Iraq’s majority Shiites have enjoyed since the 2003 after decades of oppression under Saddam Hussein and could severely test the country’s fragile institutions. Before the announcement, Shiite politicians warned of violence should their parties lose the election.
The preliminary results announced Friday night show Mr. Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc winning 91 seats in the 325-member parliament to 89 seats for Mr. Maliki’s State of Law.
In a hastily convened press conference, the prime minister announced he would press for a recount, citing suspicions of fraud.
Related Entries
- March 19, 2010 ‘Left, Right & Center’: Deeming or Redeeming?; Health Care Gets Critical
- February 26, 2010 ‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Huddle, Goldman/Greece