Trevor Stone: Climate change: Tax carbon, not wealth
Re: Daily Camera Jan. 18, 2022 guest opinion “Class and climate change: A wealth tax would justifiably target carbon-indulgent Boulder:”
Tom Mayer’s call for a wealth tax rightly points out that the wealthiest 10% of the population step with a disproportionately large carbon footprint, and justly calls for those who contribute most to climate change to pay a large share of the bill to fix the problem. As a well-to-do and climate-concerned Boulderite, I’d be happy to pay a higher tax to cover my share of excess pollution. But there’s a more effective way to do it than a wealth tax.
A wealth tax would take the same 2% from the owner of a solar panel company as it takes from the owner of a coal mine. A wealth tax would value a $5,000 car the same as a $5,000 bicycle. And a wealth tax wouldn’t see a dollar from someone who spends all their money on international flights, because money spent on consumption doesn’t accumulate as wealth. In other words, a wealth tax doesn’t reward people for reducing their climate impact, just for owning assets, no matter how clean or dirty.
A carbon tax would make the biggest climate polluters pay the biggest price while simultaneously creating an incentive to reduce carbon emissions and thereby save money. The folks who make their money from fossil fuels will be on the hook for the damage they cause while entrepreneurs leading the clean energy transition will see a reward. An electric bicycle will become a better investment than a gas-powered car, and carbon-intensive products will be more expensive than sustainably built ones.
The wealthy have bags of tricks to hide wealth to avoid tax. A carbon pollution fee at the mine or well would be easy to enforce and reward people for doing the right thing by reducing emissions.
Trevor Stone
Boulder
Melody Fuller: Maggi Markey: Please do not forget her
Maggi Markey was Boulder County’s first female County Commissioner, elected in 1974 and in office from 1975 to 1982. Rocky Mountain PBS incorrectly attributes the first female commissioner status to Josie Heath in their recent program describing Josie’s contributions to our community. But we should not forget to recognize Maggi Markey as our first female commissioner. She made a tremendous impact on long range planning and our open space program for which we should always be grateful.
Thanks to Maggi Markey and shame on PBS for their error and refusal to acknowledge or correct this oversight.
Melody Fuller
Boulder
Rishi Raj: Growth: Too much is not healthy
The Hill residents are experiencing extreme stress from crime, fireworks and high-nuisance. This is a symptom of growth-for-the-sake-of-growth mentality in our government. It gives landlords a free license to “pack ‘em in.” Over-occupancy produces uncontrolled mob response; not unexpected — since packing many warm bodies into small spaces creates frustration and claustrophobia.
It is our government’s responsibility to manage growth. Popular slogans such as “more housing, more housing, more housing” can be counterproductive beyond a certain point.
In Boulder we can be different, we can resist the enormous political pressure for growth. CU wants to cross 50,000 students. RTD wants more buses despite them running around nearly empty spewing out fumes on our streets. The city likes more and more revenue.
I do not have the answers, but the time has come for us to ask how we can balance growth with community wellness?
Rishi Raj
Boulder
Jeff Combelic: Marshall Fire: Rebuild using solar
As a residential contractor of 37 years and from the budgets I am seeing from people on Angi List referrals, they generally have less than 50 % of what it will take to rebuild their former homes. Without additional financing they will have to settle for a two- or three-bedroom compact home.
As a solar design and builder these smaller footprint homes could be Net Zero because of less side to side shading. Also, the new smaller footprint would allow for geothermal (ground source heat pump) piping in the old larger basement hole thus helping achieve Net Zero.
Given adequate solar access and orientation they could even have a large enough PV (photovoltaic) array to power an electric car or two for work commutes, giving the Owners a Zero Carbon Footprint home and commute.
The vision may be seen at climatechangehomes.us
Jeff Combelic
President of Climate Change Homes, Gold Hill
Sue Winthrop: Domestic terror: It’s a dangerous place
On Saturday, Jan. 15, during Sabbath morning services at Congregation Beth Israel, in Colleyville Texas, four people, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker were taken hostage. I watched the news and felt as if I had been punched in the gut. The tears flowed as I thought about what the people being held hostage were going through.
As horrific as this act was I knew that communities of all faiths all over the world were coming together and praying for a peaceful solution. The Prime Minister of Israel also made a statement. People all over the world that are Jewish once again felt the sting of being singled out with hate. Our neighbors that are Muslim came together and prayed. They know all too well what hate for who you are means and the violence it can bring.
There was a peaceful solution for the people that were held hostage. Though the terror that they felt during this whole ordeal will stay with them forever. It seems to me that going to the synagogue and being able to pray in peace may become a thing of the past. Our world has become a dangerous place. Now synagogues have to be locked. The police in the community have to know the layout just in case.
Just in case of another violent act…
Sue Winthrop
Longmont
