Hi, @Canuck,
Yes, British Columbia has been an inspiring example for Climate XChange and others in the MA carbon pricing movement. Climate XChange hosted a visiting delegation from BC a while back -- government officials and business types -- who engaged in meetings at the State House and at MIT. Jessica and @PeterK even chauffeured some of the guests in their Teslas.
As for unpopular... while I conceded your point is valid, I think in MA we may be able to implement carbon pricing without costing a single politician his job. The bill to do so already has 40+ cosponsors, which is a very large number for a bill at this stage of the game. I don't think we can build a strategy that requires many (any?) politicians to sacrifice their jobs; as you say, most wouldn't be willing to do so. But when we start to get significant numbers of people speaking out in favor of carbon pricing, the game changes.
I have to say, we are particularly grateful to the people and government of British Columbia for starting down this path a few years ago. It is one of the examples that is critical to making the case for doing the same here in Massachusetts.
Alan
Good idea on the raffle to raise awareness. When the carbon tax was first debated and brought into force in BC many were against it. It was also brought in by a Liberal government (this may sound odd, but in BC the Liberal government is the right/conservative party and the NDP (New Democratic Party) is the left/liberal party). So it was brought in by the right leaning party -- which in itself is unusual. I don't think the left leaning party could have brought it in because of their ties to unions/labour groups who generally oppose environmental legislation at the expense of jobs -- not that this policy had that effect.
I note that your webpage uses our policy to answer the question:
Are there successful models of climate fees in action:
Yes. Countries and localities around the world use carbon pricing to cut pollution and improve local economies. Most experts consider British Columbia’s policy a stellar example of an effective economy-wide carbon pricing policy. In 2008, the province became the first place in North America to adopt a carbon fee and rebate system. Read more about it here.
This is what it will take in jurisdictions all over the world to see
real change. It was a bold move by our Provincial government, and extremely unpopular (to say the least, especially in rural towns) but it takes bold moves by governments to make real changes. Electoral pandering doesn't bring about real change. I note that in Australia Prime Minister John Howard sacrificed his career to bring in gun control, opposed by about the same percentage as you'd see in America, but few in Australia are arguing with the results many years later:
Australia's gun-control solution - Business Insider
How many politicians would sacrifice their career for the good of the people? Practically none, if you ask me.
We were told the Liberal government would lose the last election over such things as the carbon tax and the HST (harmonized sales tax). The polls had them losing severely to the NDP. However, the polls were wrong and to everyone's surprise they won:
Why were polls so wrong about the B.C. election? - British Columbia - CBC News
Nevertheless, it will not be an easy task to bring this tax into force in other jurisdictions. It will take a government willing to sacrifice itself to do so, and that's extremely rare these days.
Good luck to you. I wish you all the best on your mission.
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Hi, @DNAinaGoodWay,
Which state senator did you engage with?
Thanks,
Alan
I have no examples of such, but then, I have no other examples of a raffle that pays the taxes either. Your raffle is extraordinary. I suggest it will help sales, and I don't see a down side. People engaged in these forums already are self tracking it, it would only be making that information available to people who come to the raffle page from some other direction.
I've contacted my state senator in support of the bill. Would be nice to leave our descendants an Earth that isn't scorched.
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Hi, @HankLloydRight,
Forgive my poor memory, especially for the hectic evening involved, but did I meet your girlfriend at the Sep 26 CXC Carbon Pricing Awareness Event / Tesla Enthusiast Mega-Bash?
In any case, please let her know that as of now I love her as passionately as I possibly can without getting myself into trouble with either you or my wife!
I was telling my g/f last night about the raffle just as talk over dinner. I really did not expect it -- but she's really interested now in getting a ticket so she can win her own Model S!! She said "the neighbors are really going to hate us now with two Tesla's!" and "It's better than giving money to politicians!".. So standby Alan -- I may have sold another ticket for you.
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OK, the referral program.
The attorney and I had a real good time batting this one around today. In short: can of worms! Not touching it with a 10-foot pole!
If anyone wants to try to do something with a referral in that few-hour gap between the announcement of the raffle winner and the ending of the referral program, that's their business. They'll have to be prepared to configure and execute their order with their own money for the deposit, as CXC won't actually dispense funds until the following week. We don't make any recommendation that you do so nor do we recommend that you not do so. Because CXC has nothing to do with the Tesla referral program, there will be no impact on our already-stated Grand Prize, including its tax component; and no change to language on the website. Also, because we are not involved with this referral program in any way, we have no requirement to inform existing or future ticket holders. Again... and I really can't stress this too much... anything about the referral program is totally up to pretty much anyone else in the world except Climate XChange and its raffle.
Alan
P.S. Sorry @EdA, @trils0n, @HankLloydRight, @shelbri.
@Pollux - implement a referral program!
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Hi, @kf93 & @DNAinaGoodWay,
As part of our discussion earlier today re two other issues (Grand Prize Winner configuring a cheaper Tesla, CPO or inventory car and referral program), the raffle attorney and I agreed that the website could be more clear on the precise award logistics. Settling on the exact language (which may turn out to be very brief) is going to take a few business days. Raffle end date and time and drawing remain unaffected. Please stay tuned.
Alan
