Carbon Tax Hysteria

Now that Federal Parliament is back the absolute hysteria surrounding the proposed Carbon Tax is so aggravating. I expect our elected representatives to debate the issues, using facts and appropriate language.
Comparing Julia Gillard to Muammar Gaddafi is disgusting.
Creating hysteria around the basis of a tax on Carbon before the extent and price of Carbon is established is also  hysterical.
I don't like taxes, mainly because I don't earn a large salary and can only off-set a few $$ of income in my tax return.  But I also believe that the community of people in Australia need to pay taxes towards developing services and infrastructure used by all.
I like driving on good roads, I like having National and State Parks, I like Libraries (local & state taxes), I like knowing that there is some safety net for those poor people who can't get jobs and don't have housing. I think companies should pay tax.
I don't like pollution and having grown up in the period where the chemical industry has produced a range of environmentally damaging chemicals (DDT etc) I am well aware that industry, by itself, will only reduce pollution when it's forced to.
So lets have a Carbon Tax. If it enables us to invest in jobs and new low-carbon technology, then lets get going before the rest of the world leaves us behind again. This is what happened with the silicon-chip/computer industry and now the solar cell manufacturing industry.
We managed to have a GST and did you see what happened with that Great Big New Tax! We survived. So long as the very poorest are cared for appropriately under the tax regime, then lets price in the cost of pollution to our very core production systems.
Perhaps getting a new large screen TV might not be the best use of your money, perhaps then investing in power generation capacity or dare I mention it, insulation might seem more worthwhile.
But cut out the hysteria, inappropriate comparisons and irrational arguments.
Try this Crikey blog on facts, polls and opinions.