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Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

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Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#2
What a shitty post. I guess I don't believe in climate change after all unless I also believe in public losses for privatized gains. Corporations raked in billions while wrecking the environment and I'm sure they all love framing this as an individual responsibility that we're all "failing" to do.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#3
Of course if you frame it like that they don't want to pay. Americans want billionaires to pay for climate programs since many made a fortune not caring about climate, kept getting richer during a global pandemic, and show no interest in addressing the grotesque wealth inequality in America.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#5
Americans pay many fees and taxes that go to environmental concerns. They also see the government does not use that revenue to address those environmental concerns, because instead it goes to state and federal pensions. Therefore, the real issue is, what do Americans have to do to get the government to spend the money on the things they say it is supposed to go to? Until the government is willing to change their spending habits, yes, Americans will be unwilling to contribute more to the national credit card with no limit.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#6
This is like asking if one would pay more taxes, where it is unclear how the tax will be used to improve common good.

I bet if you ask people if they are willing to pay $1000 dollars (financed as $40/m in 25 months) to secure a spaceship ticket to escape the failing earth climate (assuming the spaceship already exists), many people will happily pay it.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#7
post #2

What a shitty post. I guess I don't believe in climate change after all unless I also believe in public losses for privatized gains. Corporations raked in billions while wrecking the environment and I'm sure they all love framing this as an individual responsibility that we're all "failing" to do.

> In February 2019, the center-right American Action Forum, estimated that the plan could cost between $51–$93 trillion over the next decade [0]

Take the low estimate of $51 trillion over a decade so $5 trillion per year.

> The top 1% of Americans have a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion, according to Federal Reserve data last updated Oct. 19, 2020

So if you seize all the wealth of the top 1% you'll pay for ~7 years of something that no one claims will actually solve climate change.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal

[1] https://windfalldata.com/blog/what-it-takes-to-be-in-the-top...

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#8
The problem with this post is that it cites a survey of how much Americans are willing to pay to "stop climate change." According to the article 57% are willing to pay $1 a month to "stop climate change" and 23% would pay $40 a month.

As an American, in a well paying IT job, I'd pay $100 IF IT WOULD STOP CLIMATE CHANGE. However, I don't believe the $1, or $40, or $100 is going to do anything. It's far more complex than that.

It reaffirms one of my maxims... beware the worthless survey.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#9
post #7
post #2

What a shitty post. I guess I don't believe in climate change after all unless I also believe in public losses for privatized gains. Corporations raked in billions while wrecking the environment and I'm sure they all love framing this as an individual responsibility that we're all "failing" to do.

> In February 2019, the center-right American Action Forum, estimated that the plan could cost between $51–$93 trillion over the next decade [0] Take the low estimate of $51 trillion over a decade so $5 trillion per year. > The top 1% of Americans have a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion, according to Federal Reserve data last updated Oct. 19, 2020 So if you seize all the wealth of the top 1% you'll pay for ~7 yea…

> Take the low estimate of $51 trillion over a decade so $500 billion per year.

Over a decade, that would be $5 Trillion per year since a decade has 10 years.

Re: Americans aren't willing to pay to stop climate change

#10
This poll doesn't say much about whether Americans are willing to pay to stop climate change, it just says a lot about whether Americans trust their government with a blank check to fight climate change. I wouldn't support "giving them money and letting them figure out the best way to use it", either. Let's hear a specific policy proposal.
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