"When you're up to your ass in alligators..." etc.. people cannot stop and realize that carbon isn't the main problem: it's just a symptom of consumptionism (the belief that humans can consume their way to usefulness). Carbon credits are a distraction from the basic need for real anti-consumption tools. VAT, sales taxes, etc...are less regressive than a dead planet. The distinction between the ruling classes and the ruled class is that the ruling class has to sell "always low prices" to a majority who are useless (to the ruling class) except as consumers in a monetized society of competitive consumption.