March 2010

Guest Speaker: Tom Tanton

Tom Tanton covered both global warming and Cap and Trade.  He also discussed Cap and Trade referring to it as a "faux market.

Another standing room only crowd welcomed our three presenters on March 2nd. Before our main speaker, Tom Tanton, made his presentation, we welcomed two high-powered candidates for public office.

First, Dolores Carr, running for re-election as District Attorney for Santa Clara County, presented an overview of her accomplishments during her first four years as District Attorney.

Dolores was followed by Tom Campbell, candidate for United States Senate to run against Barbara Boxer. In the latest polls, Tom is currently the front-runner to win the Republican nomination. Tom reminded our audience that he was voted the most fiscally conservative congressman in the House of Representatives during two of his terms in office.

Our main speaker was Tom Tanton, who made a very informative and entertaining presentation that covered both global warming and Cap and Trade. He started by discussing AB32 in the state of California that will cost Californians over $140 billion over the next 10 years. He referred to Cap and Trade legislation as a "faux market." It is not a market-based system.

In a market-based system, there is a meeting of the minds between a willing buyer and a willing seller. With Cap and Trade, there are no willing buyers - only the enforcement of government-induced fees (taxes). AB32 represents the largest tax increase in California history. Tom encouraged the support of a proposition that will mandate that AB32 not be enforced until the state of California has had four consecutive quarters with 5-1/2% or lower unemployment.

Tom also touched on the faulty foundation that Cap and Trade and similar legislation are founded. The fraud, cheating and lying that has gone on has created distorted data. If Cap and Trade is passed on the national level, it will cost $1.3 trillion - 10% of our GDP. He suggested that environmentalists look at the entire issue of climate change holistically. He indicated that we should oppose any environmental measures that would reduce our procuctivity, energy, capital or materials.

In the Q & A, the success of Cap and Trade was mentioned in conjunction with acid rain. Tom pointed out that acid rain is localized. Global warming is worldwide. He concluded by saying that if China doesn't agree to participate, the entire effort is useless.

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