Is the Carbon Tax a Better Option?

Fossil fuel companies attacked cap in trade by arguing that a carbon tax would be a better option. But just three years ago, those m companies spent tens of millions of dollars to successfully convince voters to reject a modest carbon tax referendum from passing in washington state. Why can't capitalists understand that their commitment to fossil fuels is undermining the conditions for their own profitability in the future? Or or is it actually not threatening their future profitabilities? That what's going on?