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Its either new supply, voluntary reduced consumption, some macro policy like this, or resource wars, or some combination of the 4. Why wouldnt this work if implemented by the government - there were ration cards in world war II and we dont seem to hear that that was insane.. Its acceptable to take a small pain now instead of a huge pain later - the problem is that not everyone can visualize the future pain yet, so TEQs sound 'insane'
Given your reading(s) regarding human nature, do you think it possible such a scheme will work?
Regarding WWII rationing: I remember somebody on TOD explaining that was rife with cheating and corruption.
Make sure to listen to the jazz piece about the rationing during WWII, very good:
[http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/life_08.html]
Marco.
I recall hearing, in childhood, a story about a relative's well-buttered car engine. It seems butter wasn't rationed (or maybe was rationed more leniently) at Post Exchanges (PX's) on military bases. So he packed butter and other stuff into his car's engine compartment in order to smuggle it off base. And then got distracted and forgot about it. And eventually pulled into his driveway with the car reeking of butter, accompanied by gales of laughter when the rest of the family saw what had happened.
Most of the time, though, no one was laughing at all the corruption and arbitrary unfairness.
My first guess is that in any real world implementation of this awful scheme, the Al Gores and Ken Lays of this world will somehow be allocated quasi-infinite quotas, their constant private-jetting being obviously "essential". On the other hand, in order to support that, Joe Schmoe will be risking his neck on a bicycle to get to work at the local grocery store.
My second guess is that there will be an almost uncontrollable epidemic of forged and hacked ration cards, far more severe than the one we have with credit cards. In many respects, this scheme threatens people's economic, social, and as in the case of "non-essential" Joe Schmoe, literal lives.
No, thanks. As a citizen, I will perceive a need for Draconian action on GW only after I see all the big hub airports closed, and all physical academic conferences cancelled and moved to the Web or simply replaced by email and blog-like methods. This is of course symbolic, but in absolute terms, aviation is the fastest growing item out there, and one of the most profligate ways imaginable to consume fuel. I would accept such changes in elite behavior as indications that the preachers of GW gloom and doom actually believe what they say. I see not one shred of evidence for such belief at the present time.
While I believe that for socio-cultural reasons, it would be a good idea for most people to go overseas once or twice in a lifetime, a medium sized airport like McArthur on Long Island could easily fill that need for the entire Northeast, with no need for any of the others.
It is perhaps no accident that serious proposals of this sort are coming from Britain, land of George Orwell. He seems to have seen something in the British that they refuse to see in themselves...
Your point about airports and academic conferences is a good one. If you want to see some real mental gymnastics, ask a self-proclaimed environmentalist to rationalize his ownership and personal use of the car, the most environmentally destructive device ever devised!
He/she will likely say something along the lines of "well I drive it as little as I can" which in my mind is like a self proclaimed advocate of freedom saying, "well I work my slave less than most!"
Seems to me that you're reacting a bit too strongly to a market mechanism other than astronomical prices to allocate carbon quotas. Suppose every individual got the SAME quota, including corporations. "Tradable" means you can sell yours, so if you have an energy efficient home and ride a bike, you have a terrific source of income. Where's the draconian part? You still have choices.
or another dictator will rise up and challenge the dictator who puts the TEQs into place.
either way, we're right back where we are: energy war(s) and/or energy rebellion(s).
I say let's accept the fact we are heading full speed into total disaster and that due to human nature there just ain't much that can be done as far as society is concerned. Then let's just try to figure out how those of us who are aware of this situation can mitigate the effects in our own personal lives.