How Free is Free: Carbon Credits and Congress

In the People's Republic of China a publisher may only publish a book if they are granted a Serial Number by the government. Each book has a unique serial number. The distribution of Serial Numbers by the government is provided without cost to the publishing houses of China.

Should a publisher deign to print something which is contrary to the will of the government, that publisher would lose some (if not all) of their Serial Numbers for the following year: a serious dis-incentive.

It is not surprising then that most books published in China are not controversial. Or should the be controversial, that controversy is directed outward say, at the United States.

The distribution of of Serial Numbers without cost is a form of indirect censorship by the government as well as a source of income by Chinese ministers who receive bribes and other forms of compensation from publishers who wish to keep their free Serial Numbers.

The United States Congress is working diligently on a Energy Bill which features the distribution of Carbon Credits - in most instances for free. My read of the draft would indicate that approximately 85% of the Carbon Credits would be granted without cost to the energy developing and energy generating sectors.

Once the Carbon Credits are granted by Congress (yes, they'd determine who gets them) there would be similar pressures on Congress to maintain the status quo and for those with credits to retain those credits. I wonder if Congress would be tempted by financial gifts from the energy lobby? Naw.

Bottom Line: Carbon Credits have great financial value and should be auctioned off to ensure that market forces are applied to the issue of global warming. That Congress is ready to grant Carbon Credits for free to the Energy lobbies displays how fundamentally un-serious, and susceptible to bribery, they truly are.