Economics and “Global Warming” By Seth Grove

Many articles that I have found on line about current economic issues raise questions about a cap-and-trade system to regulate carbon dioxide emissions and its environmental impact. One such article that I found on the N.Y. Times website states that according to M.I.T.’s Integrated Global Systems Model if we continue with “business as usual” we will see a global increase in temperatures of at least 3.6 percent. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21view.html) The article also goes on to state that would take about a $300 tax a metric ton on carbon emissions to have a substantial impact on global warming. Under such a tax, goods would rise in proportion to the carbon foot print raising fuel prices and additional $2.60. THIS IS ABSURD! They say in the article that it will force automakers to produce more efficient vehicles. I have better option, how about we let the far superior clean diesel engines that are being run in cars over in Europe allowed on the auto market in the U.S.

There are many reasons why this would be beneficial to both the environment AND consumers. For Starters they are about 30% more efficient per mile then the most efficient gasoline car. They are cheaper to maintain and own. And the best part is diesel is the cheapest form of fuel to make. Not only that but diesel engines can be run reliably on synthetic forms of diesel fuel such as bio-diesel and even fuel made from marijuana plants. To bad that's illegal too.

But a-last what about producers. Sure they will lose money from all of the research and development of producing more efficient gasoline cars, if diesel cars were to more profitable, but they would also have a potentially bigger market for those with the demand for an efficient clean diesel car. Now if only oil producers would drop the ridiculously high prices on diesel fuel, then the market for efficient diesel cars would be huge, and they would be helping the environment from “global warming” or “climate change” or whatever the hell it is being called now.