Now here's a novel idea: Tax pollution, not people

"Socialism collapsed because it did not allow the market to tell the economic truth. Capitalism may collapse because it does not allow the market to tell the ecological truth." — Oystein Dahle, former vice president of Exxon for Norway and the North Sea

"Cutting income taxes while increasing gasoline taxes would lead to more rapid economic growth, less traffic congestion, safer roads, and reduced risk of global warming — all without jeopardizing long-term fiscal solvency. This may be the closest thing to a free lunch that economics has to offer." — Harvard economics professor N. Gregory Mankiw, former Chairman, White House Council of Economic Advisers

Spare the Taxpayer, Spur the Economy, Save the Planet

Abid Aslam
OneWorld US
Fri., Apr. 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C., Apr 13 (OneWorld) - As tax day looms, a prominent environmentalist is urging changes he says will spare the taxpayer, spur the economy, and save the planet.

''As Americans are filing their income taxes, many of their counterparts in several European countries are benefiting from a steady decline in income taxes as governments lower taxes on income and raise taxes on environmentally destructive activities,'' said Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, a think tank here.

''It's time for the entire world to lower income taxes and raise environmental taxes.''

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