The Obama cap and trade program will of course cost us all more money. It’s basically a tax that will roll down to consumers (see the Wall Street Journal, “Who Pays for Cap and Trade?”) Notably, the higher energy costs that the program will bring will hurt lower income individuals and people with the highest fuel costs.
If you were struggling to pay your energy costs in the past, wait until the cost of this program hit you. Some states with large coal-based energy producers will be hit harder, and thus their customers will be hit harder. In other words, this program will not be even handed. If you think about whom this program will hurt the most it has to be the elderly. Fixed incomes are not going to absorb the energy increases that will appear after the implementation of this program.
There is no doubt about the fact that we all use more energy than we should. The changes coming from this program will begin to force Americans to deal with a new reality, and “downsizing” is going to be a fact of life for many of us. When you think about your energy consumption in the future, think small is better.
Popularity: 20% [?]
I think it will also be interesting to watch another area where the government’s influencing production, which is potentially in the auto market. I’ve heard speculation that auto companies will be forced to build cars that a lot of consumers won’t want.
I think President Obama would not just start any program without considering the welfare of his people, right? This program will surely affect us but maybe in the long run we will benefit from it. We cannot actually predict our future so all we have to do is prepare.
It seems that, not only the elders but also each one of us will be affected by the program. Well, I think we should think positive. Why don’t we give it a try? I mean, let us try to cooperate and support the president. I would agree with Mozart, President Obama must have thought about the welfare of his people when he planned the program.
No doubt the energy costs will be going up in future. However this should focus attention on our energy consumption pattern. Truly speaking we are extremely casual about consumption be it electricity or gas. This program may eventually force us to look inwards and our optimize energy consumption pattern. In some countries governments have made buying a car so difficult and costly that people are force to use public transport. This saves fuel and reduces pollution. Similar can happen if high energy costs improve our consumption habits.
I’m with you on that, millionaireman. Cooperation is what we need in our society or government. What do you think is the reason, why? Well, for me, in implementing a program is not only address to the president alone but also to us.