Even naughty kids don't deserve lumps of coal

Santa might want to rethink his strategy these days. No matter how poorly kids behave, they don't deserve to wake up on Christmas morning to coal in their stockings. When the burning of coal and other fossil fuels is destroying the future of all kids, this is just too cruel. Whether naughty or nice, our kids deserve a clean world in which to live.

It's not too late to turn things around. There is a bill in Congress that has the support of conservative, liberal and moderate citizens that would be a great start on giving our kids that clean world. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 763) would put a steadily rising price on carbon and give the net revenue to U.S. citizens in equal shares. The free market takes care of the rest as people and industry choose cheaper clean energy over dirty and increasingly expensive fossil fuels.

As long as Santa leaves the coal in the ground, his visit will make even our naughty kids smile. And if we do our jobs as citizens and call our legislators about HR763, we can give that smile a chance to last a life time.

Mark Ailes

Lombard