Re: [Pen-l] Obama going after full privatization of Social Security

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

Max Sawicky wrote:
> As an enviro you might be congenial to heavier taxation of
> consumption, which is what this all entails, in the context of an
> individual income-cum-consumption tax with exemptions, a standard
> deduction, and graduated rates.

All else constant, a consumption tax encourages saving (or at least
should do so if it works as advertised). If the financial markets are
behaving, increased saving should lead to increased fixed investment.
Ignoring the outrageous nature of the first clause ("if the
financial..."), increased investment (in machinery, factories, malls,
etc.) hurts the environment as much as consumption.

A tax on effluents seems a better idea.
-- 
Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own
way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
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