cap & trade

[moonus111]

If cap & trade gets passed in the US, does anyone realize that the pressure to do SPS is going to be huge?

[Rhyshaelkan]

Could you elaborate on cap and trade?

[moonus111]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/01/capandtrade101.html

It's a political subject. Basically it is some nightmare legislation that will drive up energy costs and hurt the economy. Companies are penalized for emitting to much CO2, and given credits for things like planting trees... never-mind that the algae vats are much more efficient at C02 absorption.

I despise it, but if it's going to drive up energy costs it seems that it is something to make our plans sound much sweeter. A source of practically infinite (non-greenhouse gas generating) energy...

Facts about C02
- @ 200 ppm plants choke and start dying
- we sit @ ~385 right now
- @ 5000 ppm we start feeling effects and above 10000 ppm we start dying b/c we can't breath
- somewhere above 385, but below 10000 ppm, the oceans go anoxic, turn the color green and start a rapid response that turns lots of CO2 into oxygen.
- there is a debate on how to stop anthropogenic greenhouse gasses (code for CO2)

[Sam Fraser]

I'm very much in the same camp as you, Logan. I think the risk from global warming/climate change is overblown, and cap and trade will be disastrous for the US economy (other countries have different versions). Are we comfortable promoting a project or concept based on reasoning we personally believe is fallacious and dishonest and by supporting policy we know will destroy millions of jobs and devastate whole sectors of the economy in the short term?

Does the means justify the ends?

[moonus111]

I think I need to get ahold of Al Gore and get his ear for about 10 minutes.

[Rhyshaelkan]

I wonder if he would be sold. Or whether he would turn into a Zubrinite. I am a little disappointed that David Brin might be a Zubrinite.

[moonus111]

whatever the cost, we cannot say that our plan is mutually exclusive with the Red armies plan. Their minions and spies are everywhere.

But seriously the line from the reds is that the moon is "not worth it"

Our line is simple "our plan makes yours easier"

[Rhyshaelkan]

Exactly so. We are not excluding Mars. We are only saying that "first things first". "Do not jump the shark". ;)