Reducing Carbon without a Tax

Reducing Carbon without a Tax
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-10-02/doubt-climate-change-then-support-carbon-taxes

It  said a carbon tax would: 1. reduce carbon emissions, 2. not harm the economy, and 3. both shrink government and help the poor.

With little evidence to support these assertions, other options need to be considered. 1. To reduce the carbon and expense of travel reduce travel. Substitute virtual presence for physical presence. 2. Reduce expense by shared use of cars.  It has been estimated the vehicle fleet could be reduced by 90% sharing sharing. Uber and the Google car provides evidence of the viability of sharing. 3. Reduce the size and expense of government by replacing travel to DC again using virtual presence. Distribute the federal government to the states, again to save travel, and increasing contact with voters. The poor are helped each time production becomes more efficient, lowering prices.  The poor are hindered by any tax, since they are least likely to escape the flow down of increased cost. (I distinguish here the poor from the poor's advocates, who suck up tax dollars meant for the poor.)

1. Virtual presence, is used today by large corporations. Teams are distributed around the world.

2. Reducing the number of cars, may not reduce carbon, except for the construction of the cars, which is a big carbon source. Sharing cars would serve the poor by giving them access they now lack. (you can save by the elimination of the busses that now cruise empty)

3. Eliminating centrally located government reduces travel, and cost due to the congestion. It will cause the lobbyists to disperse also. It emerses the officials in the local cultures rather than the culture of the powerful elite. I would make the legislators more diverse, as are their voters.