Gas
Australia's got a carbon tax, until 2015 - according to the plan - when we get a emissions trading scheme. I'm not opposed to either, but have my doubts about the overall efficacy of the plan on actually reducing emissions, although still willing to support positive efforts and evaluate whatever outcome is achieved, howsoever little that will be in my lifetime, especially with the Chinese, the Indians, and the U.S. unwilling or unable to act. For that matter, aren't India and China still among the developing nations, i.e., lumped in with Africa et al., and therefore those that will be on the outer with developed nations acting, not acting, and requiring their participation.
I guess it's one of the advantages of the Australian government's setup, that we can put through this kind of legislation, without having to have a "mandate", and without having to deal with a just-say-no opposition capable of siphoning off members of the party in power. Party-line voting can be trouble, too, but here's Australia taking action when the big players can't get it together to have it on the agenda even.
Sure, we have the usual suspects proclaiming doom, but, quietly, in other areas, you've got businesses and people looking for a way to make it work, and to make a profit, too. Will it cost jobs? Maybe, but it'll probably create some, too. Will it kill off entire industries? Please.
11 July 2011
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And speaking of forms of government, here in our small burg, the local golf course has been running at a serious deficit for several years. At one point the owner threatened to sell off the land and build homes on it. A committee of local citizens, of which I was one member, took a really comprehensive look at this threat plus a look at finding other options such as buying the course. We found none were feasible at the price the owner was willing to sell. This has now gone on for several years while the deficit grew ever larger. Now the local bank that holds some $6 million in loan paper on the course will foreclose on it tomorrow. The Town and County wherein we and the course all sit, are also owed about $40 thou. in back taxes. The bank, County and town may end up owning it but none of these entities wants to own a golf course even if it was making money, which it is not, so what will happen? I don't know but I think our whole country may be faced with a similar problem in just a few short weeks. Does anybody want to buy the country?
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