Many readers know the story of the Viking turned King who was said to be able to hold back the sea, only to realize that he had no such power.
King Canute the Great, the legend says, seated on his throne on the seashore, waves lapping round his feet. Canute had learned that his flattering courtiers claimed he was “So great, he could command the tides of the sea to go back”
I think that’s how SkS political advocate Dana Nuccitelli views his pet climate movement. He thinks that a Carbon Tax is the solution. In a hilariously swivel-eyed op-ed he managed to get published at the Sacramento Bee, Viewpoints: Climate debate is settled; carbon tax is vital where the editorial board didn’t take note of the slow motion discrediting of his claims about the so called 97% scientific consensus, Nuccitelli beams:
One of the most effective solutions – a revenue-neutral carbon tax
The only thing a Carbon Tax will command in California, is a mass exodus of business.
After Obamacare hits business owners hard in 2014 with expected increases up to 146%, many will be stretched to the breaking point. A Carbon Tax would be the final impetus for many to leave the state. That would include my own small business. While we are quoting fables in the context of California business and tax revenue, Dana would do well to read the The Goose With the Golden Egg
ONE day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering. When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find,—nothing.
“GREED OFT O’ERREACHES ITSELF.”
California, once the “golden state” now faces routine economic exodus.
And in the face of world CO2 production, particularly China, what possible difference could a California Carbon Tax make in the face of these numbers?
Source: CDIAC and Harvard, from this WUWT essay: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/06/co2-emissions-china-is-the-big-hockey-stick-in-the-room/
Note, the drop in the green line. It’s the economy, stupid.
California has already reduced emissions due to its own economic decline, with drops over three straight years, with 2011 dropping 22%, but apparently that isn’t fast enough for King Canucitelli.
But sure, let’s imagine we can tax the Carbon Dioxide right out of the air. With workable ideas like this, I predict Governor “moonbeam” Jerry Brown will soon tap King Canucitelli to head up a new program to tax that CO2 right out of the air, and business tax revenue right out of the state.
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“revenue neutral” is the ignorant definition used by those unable to understand any tax will bear a cost, an administrative cost that is.
The drop in US CO2 emissions is also from greater reliance on natural gas. Without benefit of signing the Kyoto Treaty, we’ve met its goals, while the cap & tax countries haven’t, despite starving their citizens of energy, while further enriching Chinese windmill makers.
Please stop talking about this clown and his deranged mentor, John Cook. You accord them undeserved credibility every time you mention them.
Anthony…
You forgot the real meaning of the King Canute fable:
“He knew his limitations – even if his courtiers did not – so he had his throne carried to the seashore and sat on it as the tide came in, commanding the waves to advance no further. When they didn’t, he had made his point that, though the deeds of kings might appear ‘great’ in the minds of men, they were as nothing in the face of God’s power.”
REPLY:
But, Dana doesn’t believe in God, he’s a Scientologist– AnthonyNote: While Dana Nucitelli is a unique name, Zeke points out below in comments that it may or may not be the same person. And Richard Tol says one Dana is a man, another is a woman. So I’ve redacted the reply accordingly. – Anthony
“any tax will bear a cost, an administrative cost that is”
If fairly implemented, it is hard to see how administrative costs of a carbon tax could be worse than what the IRS does.
Looks like this would need updated with a new air tax in Cali 😉
http://taxfoundation.org/article/facts-figures-2013-how-does-your-state-compare
He should stand for governor. Anyone that goes to the polls saying. “we want tax you until you bleed” always does really well.
“He’s a Scientologist”!!
Great. Next time I read some idiot having a go at Chris Brooker for (apparently) being a Creationist, I shall have a riposte in my quiver. Thanks.
“REPLY: But, Dana doesn’t believe in God, he’s a Scientologist – Anthony”
Well, that explains a very great deal.
Steve Reynolds:
If fairly implemented, it is hard to see how administrative costs of a carbon tax could be worse than what the IRS does.
Steve, this is California. Don’t be underestimating our politicos.
gallopingcamel says:
June 5, 2013 at 9:32 am
What the kinetic dromedary said. Unfortunately, We need to know the enemy, because he gets airtime with his ill-considered foolishness, and we need to be armed with information to counter it.
Scientologist Dana is a woman. Environmentalist Dana is a man.
Steve Reynolds says:
June 5, 2013 at 9:41 am
I take it, then, that you implicitly support a carbon tax. Sigh…….
‘Note, the drop in the green line. It’s the economy, stupid.”
It’s actually more than the economy. hmm in a little bit we will post some analysis that explains the primary causes. of course the economy is one of the causes, but there are other important factors at play as well.
Eric says:
June 5, 2013 at 9:36 am
…
REPLY: But, Dana doesn’t believe in God, he’s a Scientologist – Anthony
That explains entire volumes worth of weird.
Anthony,
Careful about the scientology claim. Reading those leaked scientology documents we also find:
“DANA NUCCITELLI and MERRICK LEVETAN of Atlanta were married in December,
2003
by the Rev. Tom Davis”
Source: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/alt.religion.scientology/cOqkp9Pd0fU
Unless gay marriage was legalized in Georgia recently, and Dana made quite a treck, you might have the wrong Dana Nuccitelli.
REPLY: Such a unique name, who would suspect there is another? That was in Dec 2003 though, not recently. Not enough information to tell either way since I know nothing about Dana’s preferences. So, we’ll call it ambiguous. – Anthony
Actually the anology in which King Canute is often used is a misrepresentation of the legend.
According to the story, the king had his chair carried down to the shore and ordered the waves not to break upon his land.
When his orders were ignored, he pronounced: “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty and worthless and there is no King worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven and earth and sea obey eternal laws,” (Historia Anglorum, ed D E Greenway).
The account shows Canute setting out to demonstrate that the tide would come in regardless, says Professor Simon Keynes of the department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the University of Cambridge.
Carbon Trading Schemes ( scams) will collapse Banks, Economy’s and Government’s Faster then credit default swaps snd Sub-Prime mess combined of 2008 almost completely did. Governments and States are in such debt they are looking for any way to keep pensions, benefits for the politicians and keeping the Heat or AC on.
Before Revenue-neutral Carbon Tax, the people pay tax amount T1 and the State receives revenue R1
T1=R1+OH1 where OH1 is current overhead (admin)
After RN-CT the State expects revenue R2=R1. Old overheads are insignificantly reduced as many taxes are unchanged, plus there is a OH2 of carbon tax overheads.
So the people pay
T2=R1+OH1+ OH2
[snip]
“One of the most effective solutions – a revenue-neutral carbon tax..”
OMG, not revenue neutral again. Do you know how many times I have heard this term thrown around over the years? Thousands of times.
The public must understand this simple rule: There is no such thing as a revenue neutral tax!!!!! They do not exist.
No government is going to take the time and cost of bringing in a new tax and then not make money on it. They might be revenue neutral in the first year or so, then they incrementally increase the tax so that it is not neutral anymore.
When I hear someone talk about revenue neutral taxes, I’m not sure if they are just young and naive, or if they are flat-out lying through their teeth.
How does he do that?
Gillard is going to get such a beating for this Carbon Tax that labour will probably disappear as a political entity in Australia come september. They have already in Queensland (they got 1 or 2 seats in parliament)
“REPLY: But, Dana doesn’t believe in God, he’s a Scientologist – Anthony”
No, he isn’t. Maybe you were joking, but people believed it.
He also didn’t make any claim that taxing carbon in Cali or the US would single-handedly solve global warming. Not sure why you felt debunking that point was worth a thread.
REPLY: well, you wouldn’t since you tend to be in agreement with such schemes. I’ll post opinions as I see fit, tough noogies if that confuses you. – Anthony
Anthony,
Definitely a doppleganger (and a woman). See: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/e/v/Janice-S-Levetan/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0185.html
Similarly: http://pinterest.com/dananuch/pins/?filter=likes
Methinks you might owe Dana an apology.
REPLY: I’ve redacted the claim. I’ll be happy to apologize to Dana, provided he offers an apology for the vitriol and hate (and wishes for my death) that goes on at SkS in their forum. Its one thing to make an honest mistake in an off the cuff comment, quite another to hate on a systemic level. – Anthony