It looks like the current government will not take action on the urgent issues of our time. The most urgent is climate change but it’s not the only one.

Any maybe no future government will take action either. It’s the nature of our political system that governments ignore long-term problems.

There is only one way to force them into action.

We must find a single issue with overwhelmingly popular support. Then we organise a national strike over it.

It must be a specific actionable realistic issue. For example

  • A fair sales tax on all products which produce carbon dioxide or methane, in proportion to their global warming effect per kilo. This would include concrete, beef, fertilizer, fossil fuels, steel. The money shall be used to fund a cut in the general VAT rate. So these products rise in price and everything else, every less polluting product, drops in price.
  • A boycott on Israel until it grants non-Jews in territories it controls equal civil rights.
  • A ban on vulture funds owning housing.

First we need a public figure, or anyone influential or persuasive, to spearhead this action.

Who can do it?

  • frightful_hobgoblin
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    1 year ago

    https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money-and-tax/tax/motor-carbon-other-taxes/carbon-tax/#startcontent

    Budget 2024

    It was announced that Carbon Tax will increase by €7.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, from €48.50 to €56.00. This applies from 11 October 2023 for auto fuels. For all other fuels, the carbon tax will increase from 1 May 2024.

    Rates

    The current rate of carbon tax is €48.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.

    Carbon tax is paid by the supplier of the fuel.

    • roastpotatothiefOP
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      1 year ago

      Thanks that’s interesting. It is not really a carbon tax through. It only applies to certain fuels. For example does not apply to jet fuel (ATF) nor shipping fuel (HFO). It does not apply to other significant greenhouse gas sources like fertiliser, concrete, beef.

      It does show that this type of tax is workable, and shows a good way to implement it.