Tracker wrote:I do hope that you are right, but the tone of AGW crowd , supported by JULIAr, seems to be that prices MUST rise, and we must suffer
Indeed, but those AGW guys are the same ones that thought that a 60c GFIT was a good idea (and even pushed for higher). At present they haven't caused enough damage to have too many people turn against them, but I'm sure they will. Inflation is currently low, but I read this morning that imports have dropped in price by 2% whilst local prodcucts and services have increased in price by 3%. People will start to buy less local produce, hurting the local producers. The local producer's costs will go up, imports won't, and the spiral will continue as people buy more imports. Local producers will struggle, and lay off staff. More dole, more people struggling with higher power prices. Fewer kwh's sold, so service charges increase - people have the same or higher bill but sit in the cold and dark, and they'll wonder why.
Eventually people will question why they can no longer afford to light their homes or watch TV, and why they have no job. They will also notice that some days are still warm, and some are cool.
The trouble is that doing this wrecks the economy, destroys local industry and removes both the ability to move to green power, and the belief that it is required at all. At present Australia has a reasonably strong economy, and both the ability and desire to invest in greener forms of energy. I suspect that using that "goodwill" as an enabler for wealth redistribution and profit making will cause much pain and reduce the chances of ever doing anything useful in the longer term.
Already it is having negative impacts. Some of us are looking at less "green" forms of energy simply because they're cheaper. Out local council have stopped some recycling services because the costs are too high. Rubbish tips have started charging for waste disposal, so now waste is being dumped on the roadside.
I remember when I was younger there was a sudden massive increase in petrol prices. Some people purchased more fuel efficient cars, but EVERYBODY had to purchase lockable fuel caps (unheard of previously). A couple of years ago diesel hit $3/litre and the same thing happened - earthmovers had to sit guard over their machines to stop people cutting the fuel lines and stealing the fuel!!
We have been told for years that we are entitled to big screen TV's and every other luxury. Now running those luxuries is "bad" and we are being punished. I'm sure there will be a backlash!