There is no reason why we can’t implement a carbon tax, and continue to trade with the US after they implement their cap and trade system.

The trade tariffs that were talked about (though still a long way from reality) by the Obama administration, were to insulate American industry from foreign industry not subjected to carbon pricing.

Given that the BC Liberal plan does a much better job of carbon pricing than the BC NDP plan, it is far more likely (but still ultimately unlikely, as that would likely depend more on what happens at the federal level) that the Obama administration will impose trade tariffs if we adopt the BC NDP plan.

As for the Liberals, the only environmental policy that they have is the gas tax and it is not very green. Otherwise, they are fully in favour of polluting the province for profit. As the Premier displayed on a recent trip to the NE.

I’d rather our political parties speak about the ideas they have which would actually show our neighbours how to approach climate change. Carbon taxes and cap and trade programs do not work without actual concrete and ambitious goals.

Hell, I’m so damn disillusioned by the entire political process that I’ve come to the conclusion that a goal like being a green province is actually a completely radical departure from the normal political theatre. It’s not reform we’re speaking of here – it’s revolution. A complete overturning of the carbon-based economy, which there are actually few political parties willing to champion.

A ‘carbon tax’ and ‘cap and trade’ are actually far too conservative ideas.

Standing behind one as the solution is a betrayal of principles, because we then become anchored to it, and politically marginalized. We cannot compromise.

We need to give these pols hell, because the hell we’ll get by our inaction is a frightening prospect.