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Resolved: The United States Federal Government should adopt a carbon tax.
Observation 1.
Because this resolution brings into question whether the United States
should price carbon or not, the framework for this debate follows
governmental obligations, and according to
Goodin, Robert. Fellow of philosophy at Australian National University, 1990 (The Utilitarian Response)
Governments obligations are to provide the most good to the greatest
number of their citizens
Contention 1 Economy
Sub point A: Social Cost
Fossil fuel consumption carries a serious negative externality, which in
economic terms means that the social costs of a collective burning of fossil
fuels exceed the personal costs. Put simply, polluting is too cheap and the
carbon market is failing. A carbon tax can correct this problem.
Thomas Hebling of the International Monetary Fund explained in May 2012,
Hebling, T. (2012) [Advisor in the IMFs Research Department]. IMF Finance & Development.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/basics/external.htm. Accessed 1 January 2016
A carbon tax would raise the price of fossil fuels, with more taxes
collected on fuels that generate more emissions, like coal. This tax
would reduce demand for high-carbon emission fuels and increase
demand for lower-emisson fuels like solar, wind, nuclear and
hydroelectric who would face lower taxes or no taxes. To be
effective, the tax should also be applied to imported goods from
countries that do not assess a similar levy on the use of fossil fuels.