Clueless Wonder

Three-quarters of Americans support government regulation of greenhouse gases, and 62% feel that way even if it means higher taxes. A vote on cap-and-trade, which would have the government issue tradeable permits limiting the amount of greenhouse gases companies could emit, could come as early as tomorrow.

Without taking sides on whether we should or shouldn't prevent greenhouse gases, what is the point in doing it unilaterally? If North America does it, but China doesn't, because of those taxes you've just increased the costs for a local manufacturing business without increasing costs for the foreign businesses, further accellerating the outsourcing push and ultimately having less effect on greenhouse gasses because now you have the fully "polluting" factory PLUS all the transportation bringing the goods from China to America.