That is a rhetorical Question of course, but it's likely that NOT even "free market", Corporations-first Republicans, would want to return to the days, of dying Lakes, dying Forests, and "emphysema alerts".
The "Cap and Trade" Policies, enforced by the first President Bush' administration, as part of the Clean Air Act -- ACTUALLY WORKED!
The EPA calls it an amazing "Success Story" ...
Cap and Trade: Acid Rain Program Results
Results
The Acid Rain Program has produced remarkable and demonstrable results. It has reduced SO2 emissions faster and at far lower costs than anticipated, yielding wide-ranging health and environmental improvements. In fact, a 2003 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) study found that the Acid Rain Program accounted for the largest quantified human health benefits – over $70 billion annually – of any major federal regulatory program implemented in the last 10 years, with benefits exceeding costs by more than 40:1.
Compliance. Compliance with the program has been consistently and extraordinarily high (over 99%). Stringent, automatic penalties provide a strong incentive for compliance and require that any excess emissions are offset.
Costs. The cost of compliance with the Acid Rain Program has been substantially lower than estimated.
EPA Acid Rain Program Results (Pdf)
EPA: Acid Rain Program Benefits Exceed Expectations
A new analysis of the Acid Rain Program, established by Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, estimates annual benefits of the program in 2010 at $122 billion and costs for that year at $3 billion (2000$) -- a 40-to-1 benefit/cost ratio.
EPA Cost Benefits (Pdf)
Given the recent Republican rhetoric about Euro-Socialism and fighting the "the Energy Tax", it looks like they should be reminded that "Cap and Trade" programs actually use Market-based principles, to account for the true Costs of Pollution.
First, "Cap and Trade" -- is a Market-based approach -- it uses Capitalism to spur on Innovation. By putting a Price on the "Hidden Costs" of CO2, that Product (or more accurately By-Product) can be analyzed, minimized, and dealt with. Markets are amazingly efficient that way.
Second, "Cap and Trade" -- has been successfully used before -- by a REPUBLICAN Administration -- to SOLVE the Acid Rain Problem.
"Cap and Trade" provides the "Market Incentive" necessary to motivate Businesses, to do the right thing.
"Cap and Trade" makes it Cost-effective to Eliminate Pollution. (ie. Profitable)
Environmental Defense Fund
The Cap and Trade Success Story
Cap and trade was designed, tested and proven here in the United States, as a program within the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The success of this program led The Economist magazine to crown it "probably the greatest green success story of the past decade." (July 6, 2002).
http://www.edf.org/...
If only the effects of CO2 (Carbon-footprints) were as VISIBLE as the effects of SO2 (Acid Rain) were -- would there even be a Debate that something must be done about the problem, of Greenhouse Gases?
Well the Obama EPA, unlike the Bush EPA, IS taking steps to treat Carbon Dioxide as a harmful pollutant -- in Compliance with the 2007 Supreme Court Ruling, to do so:
E.P.A. Proposal Calls Greenhouse Gases a Danger to the Public
By Kate Galbraith, NYTimes -- March 23, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency has sent a proposal to the White House that would label carbon dioxide a danger to public welfare — a key precursor to regulating greenhouse gas emissions as pollutants.
The long-awaited finding, sent to the Office of Management and Budget, stems from a 2007 Supreme Court decision in which the agency was found to have the authority to regulate emissions that contribute to global warming.
...
"This issue is clearly on a fast track," said Frank O’Donnell of Clean Air Watch, who welcomed the news. "There’s absolutely no doubt about it because this is cleaning up unfinished business from the prior administration."
EPA moves to regulate greenhouse gases
By the Associated Press -- March 27, 2009
The EPA action "signals that the days of ignoring this pressing issue are over," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., whose Senate committee is working on a climate bill.
Many business leaders argue - as did President George W. Bush - that the Clean Air Act is ill-suited to deal with climate change and that regulating carbon dioxide would hamstring economic growth.
Those hesitant "business leaders" need to be asked one Question:
"Do you miss Acid Rain?"
As Venture Capitalist, John Doerr recently testified before Senate Barbara Boxer's Energy Committee, we MUST:
Put a Price on Carbon and a Cap on Carbon Emissions. [and must] Pass a 100% Refundable Carbon Tax.
This is the over-arching policy. We need to ACCOUNT for the TRUE COSTS of emitting greenhouse gases. We can’t continue every day dumping 70 million tons of CO2 into our atmosphere as if it is some kind of a free, open sewer.
Senate Committee: Environment and Public Works, Briefing -- Jan 7, 2009
"Investing in Green Technology as a Strategy for Economic Recovery"
Comments by John Doerr
PDF
Bullet Point Summary
In brief, we must stop acting like CO2 doesn't matter, because we can't see it! Its effects are there, whether we take the time to notice or not.
Cap and Trade has a "proven track record" of bringing such "Hidden Costs" to light, and dealing with them -- very COST-EFFECTIVELY! It is time to STOP sweeping such Global problems under the "maybe later" rug.
EPA - Cap and Trade - Clean Air Markets