A minor carbon tax would not hurt the economy "detrimentally." We need to be more aware about what fossil fuels and other pollutants are doing to the environment. Having a carbon tax would promote the use of more greener alternatives in the United States, in which we DESPERATELY NEED, to ensure future generations of a safe environment.

Global warming is the single most important issue we face today. The oppose an opinion about a carbon tax is a waste of time an energy. Why are we even having this discussion today. We should already be talking about how to implement a carbon tax

The idea that this will hurt the people is nothing more than your good ole Republican scare tactic..The prices on everything are and have been rising at ridiculous rates regardless! We the people are taxed for damn near everything, the corporations that help destroy our planet should be taxed as well

A carbon tax is a great strategy to incentivize innovation in clean energy and make polluters accountable for the risks they place on public health.

Economically, the idea behind a carbon tax is fairly simple. Due to the difference between our private cost (what we pay for a good/service) and the social cost (what we pay plus the indirect costs it has on us and society) We are out of equilibrium. By adding a tax equal to the difference between the private cost curve and social cost curve, the indirect costs are made more direct. In a worst case scenario, the entirety of the tax falls on the consumer; however, even then, the cost to the consumer is equal to what it was before, simply more direct rather than through indirect measures such as pollution and adverse healthy effects. This tax forces society to recognize the cost that it has been paying all along for this good/service. Using the real cost associated, businesses and consumers begin looking into alternative ways to meet the same needs; rather than fossil fuels, now that we see the real cost, perhaps clean energy is cheaper, for example. Implementing a carbon tax, other thigs constant, forces firms and consumers to see the real cost they are incurring in production/consumption, leads us to cheaper alternatives, and results in a more sustainable economy overall

From reading some of the opinions on this issue, I felt that there might be some misunderstanding of exactly what a carbon tax is. I know I have some gaps in my knowledge! So I did some research and came up with a pretty good explanation on Wikipedia. Here's a link if anyone else wants to check it out: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax For those of you who deny climate change is happening or believe that human activity does not contribute to its acceleration, this reference will probably not be of interest to you. However, many of us are just not well informed about it because our busy lives and personal life challenges limit how much time we have to devote to increasing our understanding of so much stuff going on around us, and this is just one more issue we can't find time or interest for. Personally speaking, I am trying to improve my own understanding. While I was nursing, critical care took all of my attention and energy. Now that I am retired, I'm trying to improve my understanding of the many challenges facing our country and I'm kind of on a mission to help others increase theirs. I don't expect others to agree with me about anything in life, but I feel all of us need to know and understand the facts about issues we face so we can form our opinions based on what we actually know, not on someone else's opinions. One reason I joined Countable was to learn about and explore the viewpoints of other Americans about serious issues affecting all of us. Understanding others' opinions, especially as they differ from mine, offers me a way to examine my own thinking from different perspectives and ensure that my own thinking about an issue is correct for me. I also hoped to find that there were others whose opposition to ideas I hold would also have some opinions on other issues that II could agree with. I believe, especially in light of our current political climate, that we do not have to agree about everything to have an open dialogue with our fellow Americans about the issues. Countable is a great way to do this, because we don't communicate directly with others, but we can see their opinions expressed openly and directly, occasionally aggressively, but honestly. Things that might be hard to hear in person might be easier to consider if expressed through opinions of bills or other questions presented in the app. To those who read my posts, I wish to say thanks! I am thoroughly enjoying connecting with all of you! Just sayin'....

Climate change is one of the most serious and imminent crises we face today. While a carbon tax may not be the best way to force environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels, it is a step in the right direction. Congressional opposition to this tax at such an early stage is sending a message that climate change is not an important issue; not only does science say otherwise, but it is only a short matter of time before every American begins to see the effects themselves. Congress must do its job and support a carbon tax in pursuit of the general welfare.

I believe a carbon tax would be beneficial to our environment. Increasing price, decreases how much one uses.

It is disgusting that the true economic solutions to problems facing our planet are not embraced by politicians. If politicians cannot take the steps to save our planet from the impacts of climate change, then they have no business being politicians.

These Republican legislators who are now so concerned about the impact on families were saying nothing of the sort back in 2007/8 when gas prices were more than double what they are now. Back then it was their fossil fuel buddies who were profiting, so it was OK, but with a carbon tax those dollars would ostensibly go to renewables research, so now we hear the fear tactics and sudden concern for families. Sigh... if only they cared about doing what's right and necessary for the future instead of protecting their rich polluting donors. Climate change is real folks; recognize the dramatic rise in global average temp in the last 100 years as compared to the longer term (10,000 year) natural trend.

If we want to move toward a fossil free world we need to make it harder for these businesses to thrive