[Paddlewise] [SPAM] Re: CO2 output

Peter Chopelas wrote:
> Mike wrote: -
>>> resource price at the wellhead is zero - no one pays Mother Earth
> 
> This is true of all recourses (and it demonstrates a misunderstanding of 
> value).  The sun shines for free, the wind blows for free, water flows 
> from the mountains to the ocean for free, trees grow for free, oil, 
> coal, natural gas, uranium, etc. all are found in the ground for 
> "free".  But that is irrelevant because we pay for all things based on 
> their market value, which is what the supplier adds.

However, the holder of the resource, since they don't pay for it, does 
not value it.  They see it as a source of profit but not as an expense 
that they have to cover.  Since it is free, they never see its price as 
a function of scarcity or long term value.  Their primary incentive is 
short-term profit rather than long-term value.  If it's a non-renewable 
resource, it is not preserved and when it disappears, they move on to 
exploit something else.

That has happened with whaling, many types of fishing, some logging and 
hunting etc.  There are many resources that can't be purchased legally 
at any price since it is too scarce or completely absent.  It is 
happening now with water and clean air.  It will happen with oil and 
virtually every other resource.

Added costs do not make the holder of the resource responsible.  In the 
absence of responsibility at source, the only response for consumers is 
to take that responsibility on for themselves.  Unfortunately, it 
appears that personal responsibility is inversely proportional to wealth.

Mike
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