Guest opinion: Political multitasking â Addressing China, our debt, and climate all at once by Mackey Smith In 2020, Senator Mitt Romney warned that the U.S. was facing three major issues the country is âjust not dealing withâ: unsustainable debt, an increasingly aggressive China, and climate change. At his announcement to not seek reelection last fall, the Senator spotlit these very same three âcritical challenges,â calling for new and younger leadership to step up and take the mantle of responsibility. This call is serious for young professionals like myself. At the beginning of this year, the U.S. debt soared past $34 trillion, and is projected to reach a staggering $50 trillion by 2030. Chinaâs ambition to be an economic and military superpower only continues to grow. And despite recent U.S. efforts, global carbon emissions are projected to still rise by 9% this decade. These mounting issues have serious implications for future generations, and they demand bold leadership and creative solutions. While there is no silver bullet for each of these issues, there is a solution that makes considerable headway on all three at the same time: a border-adjusted price on carbon pollution. A single solution that can tackle multiple issues simultaneously is a rarity, and an idea and opportunity our legislators should not overlook. While chiefly considered an environmental policy, carefully crafted carbon pricing legislation could be used as an important debt-reduction tool. Levying an upstream fee on carbon would generate substantial revenue â over $1 trillion within 10 years â that could be used to reduce our debt and deficit. The plan would call for âdividendâ rebates or tax swaps to ensure American taxpayers are not burdened and come out ahead financially, while still generating significant revenue for deficit reduction. (Read More) News Releases Religion a major factor in social service contribution, new Sutherland report says A new report from Sutherland Institute highlights the evidence on the social service benefits of religion and religious people in their local communities. In the report, Sutherland Constitutional Law and Religious Freedom Fellow William C. Duncan highlights years of data showcasing the irreplaceable good from religious groups in serving people in need and why protecting religious freedom in Utah and America is necessary. (Read More) Utahâs distinctive demographic profile is youthful, aging, urban, and more racially and ethnically diverse Utahâs distinctive demographic profile features a youthful, aging, and predominantly urban state that is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This update to the 2021 data book from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on Utahâs demographic characteristics reveals significant variation and marked differences in the economic, education, health, and housing outcomes by age, disability, ethnicity, geographic location (urban/rural), race, and sex. (Read More) |
