I read an article today stating that only 45% of our carbon emissions remain in the atmosphere… the rest are absorbed by the oceans and other natural balances for the carbon cycle. Since I already knew the amount of greenhouse effect our total CO2 emissions would make, it seemed natural to figure that in as well. Here it is: Our CO2 emissions account for .011% of greenhouse effect. This is the portion our government has decided to try taxing out of existence.

I have a better idea.

Now let me get this right out in the open up front. I studied glaciation and sea levels and such when in school for physical geography. I know it isn’t getting warmer. I know that this is a relatively cool period, not only in geological terms, but in the span of human history as well. I know the ice caps and 56% of glaciers are expanding. I know greenhouse gases are one of the smaller factors in climate and that they didn’t drop to these levels until very recently. I know that we started measuring CO2 levels in 1812 and, at that time, the carbon content of the atmosphere was 50% higher than today. I know that NOAA thinks measurements taken on the side of the world's most active volcano are representative of the world average… but let’s set all that aside for the moment and pretend it is a problem.

Our two biggest contributions to greenhouse gases are landfills and agriculture. These two issues are directly connected, as a full 50% of the food we produce goes directly to a landfill. Greenhouse effect aside, these practices contribute to real environmental damage and are an immense burden on taxpayers… not to mention the health issues concerned with both. It only makes sense to go after these, especially if we can reduce taxes along the way.

Here it is: Eliminate subsidies for corn and soy. If you must subsidize some form of farming, subsidize polyculture farming, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken.

Just by doing this we could bring food production in this country down to sustainable levels while still having enough to feed ourselves, export, and give some away as aid. Farmers would be allowed to grow profitable crops, improving their financial situation self-sufficiently. We’d make the omnipresence of high-fructose corn syrup nearly impossible to carry forward, thus reducing health costs. Cows would be fed their preferred grass diet, thereby stopping their production of methane. Uneaten food rotting and producing methane in landfills would be greatly reduced. Last but not least: The Federal Government would save $16 billion annually.

Oh, and that whole free-market thing would come back into play with regard to our food. What a concept, huh?