Sarkozy Hearts Carbon Tax

French President Nicholas Sarkozy calls for a carbon tax for France. Dave Roberts notes: "U.S. right-wingers like to use Sarkozy as a rhetorical bludgeon, showing that Europe is moving toward the U.S. rather than vice versa. I wonder if this will cause any of their little pea brains to short-circuit." Probably not. The capacity to sustain massive cognitive dissonance is part of the job.

Photo by Flickr user Chasqui used under a Creative Commons license

Comments

He also caved to the farmers on organics, so I don't think we can declare him non-US leaning just yet.

Posted by KathyF | October 26, 2007 11:12 AM

I wish that some Republican would offer to swap out FICA taxes for carbon taxes. It would lend some insight as to who really thinks carbon emissions are a critical problem, and who thinks that transferring wealth from poorer, younger people, to old, wealthier, people is the most important thing our national government does.

Posted by Will Allen | October 26, 2007 11:19 AM

wrong link! the link takes you to the pic of hte peas, not a story on sarko.

Posted by notchris | October 26, 2007 11:20 AM

I'm having trouble divining the meaning of the wasabi peas pic. I probably need more coffee. Can somebody clue me in?

If it's just dadaist multimedia, I'm cool with that. But I need to know, so that my brain can stop grasping desperately for meaning.

Posted by Adam | October 26, 2007 11:26 AM

@Adam

I think it works on multiple levels. First, the "pea brain" level. Next, the fact that the wasabi peas were flown from Japan on an airplane, thus adding tons of carbon to the air.

If carbon fuels are taxed more highly, those very same wasabi peas will cost more Euros than they did when the photo was taken.

Posted by &chik | October 26, 2007 11:35 AM

I read the green peas as a pun on "Greenpeace", like the "Whirled Peas" bumper stickers one sees from time to time.

But the idea that right-wingers are opposed to a carbon tax is false. Plenty of right-wing economists favor a carbon tax over cap-and-trade.

Posted by Clark | October 26, 2007 11:41 AM

Anyone consider that Sarkozy is simply seeking a competitive advantage for France's economy? If every first world country burdens itself with carbon taxes, France would be burdened the least, since it gets a higher percentage of its energy from nuclear power than any other countries do. All things being equal, that would translate into a competitive cost advantage for French products.

Posted by Fred | October 26, 2007 1:39 PM

...and a European levy on imports from countries outside the Kyoto Protocol.

Hmmm -- sounds like a good way to start a trade war.

Posted by Slocum | October 26, 2007 7:43 PM