SPC (and other libertarians) Political Views Discussion Thread

[Bacon King]

1. What evidence is there that petroleum source rocks are produced by some other force than the sedimentation of microscopic ocean life?
2. Whatever this evidence, how does it counteract the fact that every single petroleum bed on this planet is found in a location that the geologic record shows to have once been a warm shallow sea (that have lots of algae and such)?
3. Do you acknowledge that any geologist, given their background and training, would have more available information on this topic than you? Does it not follow that the average geologist's opinion would be more likely to be accurate than yours? If abiogenetic oil was in any way a credible theory, wouldn't more than a very small handul of geologists support it?

[Bacon King]

Ah; since you didn't answer me in that thread so I posted it here, as this seems to be the place you argue stuff at.

Anyway, while I agree both that a skeptical attitude is healthy and that you do have a right to believe in whatever you want to, I'd like to actually try to understand if you have any idea about what you're talking about here. Because, well, I'm sure you also have a right to believe the Earth is flat, for example, but that doesn't mean it isn't wrong.

[Bacon King]

I am interested in your response to the following, yet did not want bump that thread and prevent a vote from happening or whatever.

To the Senators supporting this repeal:

how do you instead propose the Atlasian government rectify the 'tragedy of the commons' situation that would otherwise exist regarding Earth's fragile atmosphere and climate?

I would propose a system to privatize Atlasia's roads and highways, thus getting rid of the tragedy of the commons situation.

Pray tell, how does transferring roadways to private ownership in any way provide a consequence for dumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

Because a lot of CO2 is released through driving. Because private road owners will wish to make a profit, they will charge money for road usage, thus bringing driving down and increasing the incentive to carpool or use alternative forms of transportation.

By that logic, one could argue that car registration fees eliminate the tragedy of the commons effect- they increase the cost of driving so they discourage emissions! In reality, a lot of driving isn't very flexible- you have to go to work, to the grocery store, etc. regardless of how much some guy is charging you to use his road. See driver behavior after gasoline price doubled last summer- everyone still drove plenty.

Besides, your plan has no effect on carbon emissions from sources other than vehicles. Cars cause what, 20%, of total emissions? Your proposal would do nothing to remove incentives from the creation of the vast majority of carbon pollution.