Nothing can ruffle our collective feathers quite like a new tax levied against us by our overseers, er...governments, especially when the very reason for that tax's existence is disputed by some (rightfully so or not).

Such is the case in Australia, where the government recently enacted a new carbon tax which begins to take effect July 1. The issue is politically divisive and very unpopular amongst Aussies, with support for the new tax sitting at just over 30%, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott declaring that he would immediately repeal the tax if elected.

At an anti-carbon tax rally in Sydney, Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop declared ''The government is trying to frighten the nation into accepting the need for it, but the Australian people are saying no, they don't want it."

This whole Aussie climate perhaps highlights the underlying reason why we're likely doomed to never reach a consensus and actually solve the issue of climate change, as there will always be one political side looking to curry public opinion by taking a contrarian approach to the issue.

That is of course, if climate change is legitimate in the first place, which according to radio broadcaster Alan Jones at a separate rally the same day in Melbourne, it is not.

''The notion of global warming is a hoax,'' Jones told the assembled crowd of about 150 people. ''This is witchcraft. Common sense will tell you it's rubbish; 97 per cent of all carbon dioxide occurs naturally...3 per cent around the world is created by human beings." Jones went on to call climate change nothing but "propaganda".

The rallies against the tax were actually smaller than those one year ago in favor of the tax, though support for the tax has fallen considerably since then, as the pinch on consumers wallets has drawn ever nearer (and isn't it easy to support something up until the point it's actually going to effect your life?).

So is climate change real, or nothing but a huge political and financial agenda? If it is real, do we have any hope as a species of actually facing the issue head on and making the changes necessary in our lives and in society to save our planet from potential disaster (and us along with it)? Let us know in the comments.