TW: Semantics, branding etc. matter. Demagogues and marketing shills thrive on them. But at the end of the day it should be about the substance. Alas it is not. Folks get frustrated about "cynical, insincere" politicians but if folks cannot get beyond the semantics then we deserve what we get.
From Mother Jones:
"A new study in Psychological Sciences...shows that Republicans and Independents would approve a "carbon offset" identical in every way to a "carbon tax" as long as it isn't called a tax.
Democrats would vote for it either way.
Researchers at Columbia ran an experiment where volunteers—self-identified as Democrats, Republicans, or Independents—read about a program that would increase the cost of carbon-producing activities but whose proceeds would be used to pay for alternative energies or carbon capture and sequestration.
For half the volunteers this surcharge was labeled a "carbon offset." The other saw it labeled as a "carbon tax." Details were identical.
The participants then had to choose between purchasing two identical items, like airline tickets, only one cost more because it included the surcharge. Results:
If it was called an offset, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents tended to select the more expensive and environmentally-friendly product All parties were also equally likely to support making the surcharge mandatory. If it was called a tax, Democrats opted for the costlier item but Republicans and Independents were more likely to choose the cheaper item Republicans and Independents would not support legislation mandating a tax. Wow. Tax really is a four-letter word."
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/01/just-dont-call-it-carbon-tax?
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