It's the message | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In the last presidential election, could it be that it was the message and not the messenger?

Maybe, just maybe, the planet is getting warmer due to human activity. Maybe we need a gradually increasing carbon tax to discourage fossil fuel use and encourage more efficient vehicles and buildings. The change to more efficient vehicles and buildings would create many jobs, while keeping the air cleaner.

The tax revenues could fund education and infrastructure which our country needs to be able to compete in the world economy. Again more jobs generated. The revenues could even help pay down our federal debt and could decrease income tax rates.

Maybe Obamacare, almost identical to Romneycare, will actually help someone in your family or a neighbor get affordable health care, where now they might not be able to get it due to an existing condition. Massachusetts has not gone broke and the people seem to like their health care system just fine.

You get the idea. If you want gridlock in Washington to change, it is time to stop sending the people who deny reality to Washington.

Mark Rothacher

Salt Lake City