With the Obama administration’s plans to collectivize healthcare threatened by a prairie fire of public outrage, the Left may be shifting targets once again. Global-warming hysteria is being moved back into the public square with a new series of television ads as the Senate considers passage of its version of the Clean Energy and Security Act (popularly known as “cap and trade” or “cap and tax”).

Cap and tax threatens to add one more layer of taxation in an economy that is already drowning in red ink. In summary, if enacted into law, the cap-and-trade bill would establish tradable credits for pollution. By capping the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions that industry would be permitted to emit, a market trading in the permits allowing the release of CO₂ would swiftly rise in value, driving up the cost of goods manufactured in the United States.

The House passed its version of cap and tax, H.R. 2454, by a narrow margin: 219 in favor, 212 opposed, with three abstentions. The shockingly high expenses associated with the measure are unlikely to be acceptable to many Americans, who are already furious with the federal government over the series of bailouts and collectivization schemes that have descended on them from Washington in the past year.

As the Wall Street Journal observed on June 26, “When the Heritage Foundation did its analysis of Waxman-Markey, it broadly compared the economy with and without the carbon tax. Under this more comprehensive scenario, it found Waxman-Markey would cost the economy $161 billion in 2020, which is $1,870 for a family of four. As the bill's restrictions kick in, that number rises to $6,800 for a family of four by 2035.”

Now the environmental lobby is pushing hard to pressure the Senate to adopt the measure, and they are prepared to spend a great deal of money in the process. According to the USA Today,

Environmentalists and others supporting climate-change legislation are outspending the measure's opponents in the television advertising skirmish underway in advance of Senate action this month, new data show.

Supporters of the plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions spent $2.9 million in August as they seek to renew interest in legislation overshadowed by the contentious battle over President Obama's health care initiative. That's $1 million more than what opponents spent, according to Evan Tracey, who tracks political advertising at the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

The surge in spending during the lawmakers' August recess put the proponents ahead overall. They have spent $8 million in support of the measure since Jan. 1, compared with $7.4 million by those opposed.

"The perception is that environmentalists are a bunch of unwashed kids tying themselves to trees," Tracey said. "That's not the case anymore. These are very sophisticated and well-funded campaigns."

Beyond the direct impact of such advertising, one may expect the impact of the ads to be greatly multiplied by sympathizers throughout the media who have gotten used to passing along environmentalist boilerplate as if such pronouncements had come down from heaven.

The economic impact of cap and tax will be profound, as will be the political and cultural ramifications of yet another massive intrusion into the everyday lives of Americans and the profitable operation of American businesses. “Well-funded campaigns” by environmental extremists are being joined with the machinations of the Washington elites in a pincer movement that threatens what remains of our economy, even as it promises great financial reward for those involved in the carbon credit trade.

Some might even observe that selling — or blowing? — smoke has never been so profitable as the president and Congress are now threatening to make it.

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Flu-Bird said:

Green propeganda Saw some pretty bad TV ads from ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE both used kids one showing a kid on a railroad track and atrain is speding down the trck toward the child the zombie narrating this ad was comparing the train to global warming and the threat to the life of the child another one showed kids going TICK,TICK,TICK and how global warming it like a timebomber ready to explode I mean the green nazis are pushing this CAP & TRADE when its realy about control and higher taxes

September 03, 2009

Bonnie said:

It's really about control and higher taxes (emphasis on control) Well said, Flu-Bird. The global warming zealots are so afraid of their fraud being exposed through sound science that they have simply turned their backs and declared the debate to be over and the issue settled. By their rules, if you don't agree with them, then you are not eligible to present evidence. And since no one (eligible) disagrees, that must mean they won. Wonderful, twisted logic of desperate people. Present evidence to discredit their claims and they close their eyes, stick their fingers in their ears, and scream "NO! NO! NO! YOU ARE WRONG! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I WON'T HEAR YOU! GO AWAY!". "There are none so blind as he who will not see'. - Anonymous

September 03, 2009

Charlie Trig said:

Dont you people breathe AIR?? what is wrong with you people? You'll support Bush for 8 years, going to war, tapping your phones, turning a billion dollar surplus into a 11 trillion dollar deficit, etc. Finally, congress is trying to make corporations stop poisoning you, and you're crying about taxes. Wake up people!!! Your grandchildren will thank you!

September 07, 2009 | url

Bonnie said:

Ah, excuse me Charlie Trig, but I don't recall supporting Bush for 8 minutes, much less 8 years. I don't recall supporting an illegal war. I don't recall supporting illegal wire taps. I DO recall really getting upset when the deficit passed ONE trillion dollars. I DO recall the US Constitution being violated by the last 12 presidents I have lived under. I DO recall my history and recognize the miserable track records of presidents goes back much further than 12 presidents. I DO recall that Congress abrogated it's Constitutional responsibilities many years ago. I AM thinking about my grandchildren. And yes, I DO breathe air. I would breathe a whole lot easier if you would just step back a little.

September 07, 2009

Sue said:

Charlie, consider.... Consider the fact that we would be the only nation IN THE WORLD with such legislation, and that many nations are increasing carbon output (think China) and you get a VERY expensive "solution" that amounts to taking a cup of water out of the ocean. Is the cost to the average american, more government regulation, and increased tax burden on small businesses worth such paltry results?

September 08, 2009