John J,
Discretionary? Have you tried to raise a family on Social Security?
Not every SS recipient is a stereo typical drug/booze addled bludger/loser.
Neither would the 2/3 of the world that’s starving or living below the poverty line agree with your myopic stance.
Consider that if transport goes up everything goes up including medicine, schooling, foreign aid etc. I suggest you rethink your stance.
BTW the free trade talks have collapsed ergo free trade is still a dream.

Dallas,
I agree that if we can't get agreement on free trade a global carbon trading is unlikely to happen.
BTW Global Warming isn't the issue it’s Global Climate Change. As for that not happening? Look around at all the environmental collapses the despoliation of our food baskets. Most capital's water problems, the Murray/Darling, SW N.S.W. Central S.A., SW W.A., The Mallee all with Water, Salinity and desertification and falling productivity issues. And that’s only some of Australia’s woes. Multiply that world wide then ponder on why we should ignore the issue.

All Man made? Most likely man aggravated. It is clearly a cumulative consequence. (The straw that broke…. If you like). Either way we can’t continue our profligate ways without catastrophic consequences.
If carbon trading redresses some of these issues we all win see ABC story on Bio sequestration in SW W.A.
Capitalism encourages the most efficient (exploitive) usage of capital rarely the best. Quick profits are the cause why shouldn't they help fund the solution?