Is it worth around $10-$20/month to fight global warming?

[Onlooker]

A lot of conservatives continue to embrace global warming by arguing that Obama's cap and trade plan will amount to an increase in taxes, and indeed that's a fair argument. But, it seems like the typical family will have to pay only $10-$20 more per month. (Based on the numbers below, 50 gallons auto gas x 12 cents=$6 + I read that a 1000 sq. foot apartment costs about $1000/season to heat, so the cap and trade would increase that to $1070, or an increase of roughly $6/month.) It is a somewhat regressive tax, so there will need to be some sort of tax break for the poor, but overall it's an awfully small cost to fundamentally change the way we use energy and take care of the planet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/science/earth/28capntrade.html

Veronique Bugnion, managing director for research at Point Carbon, a consulting firm on emissions trading, said the Obama plan would lead to gasoline price increases of about 6 percent, or 12 cents a gallon at current American prices, starting in 2012 and rising gradually until 2020. Average utility rates would rise about 7 percent nationwide, she predicted, although with significant regional variations.

[NYC_SKP]

1. That $10-$20 assumes no change in behaviors or lifestyle choices.

Most people can cut their actual carbon footprint in half.

Paradoxically, though, the people most willing to make changes already have and have the least number of changes left to make.

And the least likely to change are the biggest culprits, but can make the greatest difference.

So, buy less crap, walk more, eat less meat, etc. etc.

Slowly, it's becoming the patriotic thing to do.

:patriotic: