Denver $acrifice$ to $ave the Planet.

I recently happened across this article in the Rocky Mountain News. Basically, Mayor John Hickenlooper wants to initiate a “climate action plan” for the city of Denver. Now, I am all for taking good care of the earth (it’s where all my stuff is), but if you have read some of my earlier posts, then you know that this sort of thing troubles me.

Here are some of the main points of Hickenlooper’s plan, as stated in the article:

Denver may ask residents to make personal sacrifices to combat global warming. Ideas being considered:

· Making heavy users of electricity and natural gas pay more

· Charging residents who throw away a lot of trash

· Setting energy-efficiency standards for new construction

· Giving carpoolers and hybrids priority for parking

This is, in my opinion, the wrong way to effect change. Basically, this “climate action plan” becomes an exercise in negative reinforcement. The government will punish you if you don’t live up to their standards (they know better than you, of course). Granted, this plan may force people to change against their will, but perhaps there is a better way. For instance, why not introduce tax incentives? Instead of charging people who throw away a lot of trash, give residents who voluntarily recycle a tax deduction. Reduce the tax burden on those who choose to build or buy energy-efficient homes. People would become environmentally aware overnight of their own volition. (Okay, #4 comes the closest to this line of thought, but what about handicapped people who don’t carpool or drive hybrids? Do they have to park in the “back 40”?)

The government won’t be going down this road, however. In fact, this plan would make it more beneficial for the city if its people don’t adhere to it. Denver will make more money this way. This is similar to the sin tax on cigarettes. The government “wants” people to quit smoking, so it raises taxes on cigarettes, thereby increasing its revenue as more people smoke. How many governments want to decrease their revenue? Likewise, if Denver’s “climate action plan” is enacted, the treasury will increase proportionally to the rate of pollution. Which will the city choose—their environment or their bank account?