LETTERS
The Age
Friday December 4, 2009
Four principles of Liberal policyI HAVE listened carefully to the new Opposition Leader and believe Liberal policy now appears to consist of four principles.1. Australia should not lead in anything (no emissions trading scheme unless the rest of the world has legislated for one).2. Ruling through fear, John Howard's strategy, is the way to go. "Great big new tax" is the current mantra (repeated to the point of nausea) and it will undoubtedly be followed by similar fear campaigns on refugees, unions and so on.3. The dogma that the Opposition's job is to oppose everything, even when ridiculous to do so.4. Sufficient reiteration of nonsense ("humans have not affected and will not affect climate") is enough to make nonsense electorally credible.Why can "the party of free enterprise" not see the huge advantages of Australia becoming a pioneer rather than a laggard in the new technologies that will undoubtedly replace dig-it-up-and-burn-it technologies?Bill Godfrey, Hobart, TasSelective argumentsIT APPEARS that part of the Liberal Party's position on climate change has been predicated on the fact the Australia produces only 1.4 per cent of carbon dioxide output. Selectivity of data has always been the domain of politicians, and in this case Mr Abbott and his loyal band of followers have certainly been selective. According to the World Resources Institute Climate Analysis 2005 figures, Australia's output is on a par with South Korea, France, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Mexico and Britain, whose output varies from 1.4 to 1.7 per cent. However, these countries have in most cases double, treble and even many multiples of Australia's population. More dramatically, China's 1.3 billion population emits only 13.21 times more than Australia but has 62 times our population.We even emit more carbon than the United States.Rob Park, Surrey HillsMe-me-me agendaAM I missing something? Could someone explain what the climate sceptics believe is the climate scientists' secret agenda? What do sceptics believe the mad scientists have to gain by all their dire warnings? More easily understood is the me-me-me agenda of the "let's wait and see so we won't be disadvantaged" proponents.Barbara Dadd, Toodyay, WADollars will do the trick"HELLO . . . Mr Abbott? It's Mr Whittaker here. I'm in the Arctic and the water is rising.""But, Mr Whittaker, due to my low taxing government you have more money in your pocket. We all do. Look on the bright side. How else could you afford a trip to the Arctic?""That may be so, Mr Abbott, but I'm starting to get concerned about the water level.""Concern is good. One would expect nothing less of any thinking Australian. But remember, citizens are now out purchasing the good things of life: plasma televisions and many gigabyte iPods.""True, Mr Abbott, but the water's at my waist and I don't think it would be safe to plug in a TV.""Negativity, Mr Whittaker, you need to overcome negativity.""I'm treading water now, Mr Abbott, and I don't know how long I can keep this up.""I'm sorry, Mr Whittaker, but I'll have to leave it there. A trickle of water is coming in under the door. Still, the extra dollars in my pocket should help to stem the flow. 'Bye."Alan Whittaker, Kew EastShift to a green taxNOW that the complex, expensive and ineffectual emissions trading scheme has been voted down twice maybe it's time to look at a simple green tax shift. This involves reducing a range of taxes, such as payroll tax, income tax and vehicle registration fees, and replacing them with taxes on carbon and methane. Add an eco-tax rebate for pensioners and low-income earners and you have a highly progressive package. No compensation is required and there is no overall impact on the economy.Alan Ide, Murrumbeena
© 2009 The Age
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