Because we in the Washington media hear and write about it almost every day, perhaps we assume that the rest of the country knows exactly what we mean when we talk about a cap-and-trade system for reducing carbon emissions.
Not so much.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows that only 24% of registered voters ''can correctly identify the cap-and-trade proposal as something that deals with environmental issues. A slightly higher number (29%) believe the proposal has something to do with regulating Wall Street, while 17% think the term applies to health care reform. A plurality (30%) have no idea.''
Rasmussen noted that Democrats are pushing the legislation on Capitol Hill but that Democrats out in the real world are actually less likely than Republicans and unaffiliated voters to know what cap-and-trade is all about.
''The gap between Capitol Hill and Main Street is huge when it comes to the so-called cap-and-trade legislation being considered in Congress,'' Rasmussen says.
Maybe pro-C&T lawmakers aren't doing a good job of selling the proposal, which involves the government setting limits on what pollutants can be emitted, then auctioning off permits for certain emissions and allowing companies to trade them. Maybe news media outlets aren't doing a good job of explaining it. Or maybe the public simply isn't interested: According to Rasmussen, 69% say health care issues are more important, while just 15% say global warming is a higher priority.
CAP & TRADE??
Call it what is is!
CAP & TAX
If this cockeymammy idea saves the world it will be so good for mankind. Just think, we will all have everything and it cost nothing because we won't be able earn enough to pay for it anyway.