VIDALIA — Carbon cap and trade policies are an attempt to destroy capitalism as we know it, Congressman Rodney Alexander said.

Alexander was one of the featured speakers at the BASF Family Safety Day Luncheon Wednesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a cap and trade bill last week that will allow for the Environmental Protection Agency to decide how many carbon emissions a company or even an individual can emit into the atmosphere, Alexander said.

However, those who are able to reduce their emissions will be able to sell — or trade — what is left under their cap to those who might need it.

“That means you can still emit gasses as long as you are willing to pay for it,” Alexander said.

The brains behind cap and trade policies are environmentalists who want to shut down fertilizer and coal plants, he said.

While plants are still able to operate under cap and trade, they will have to pay higher and higher costs, and those costs will eventually be passed on to consumers, Alexander said.

However, the congressman said the way the public can fight similar policies is by getting involved.

“I get more calls about people concerned about the federal government coming and taking their guns or not allowing them to run dogs to hunt deer,” Alexander said.

“Make sure you voice your opinion when you see things that will affect the outcome of the plant where you work.”

The BASF safety luncheon was to celebrate four years at the Vidalia location without a lost-time accident.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the City of Vidalia has taken some safety suggestions from BASF and implemented them with the city’s workforce.

“We are very proud of the employees of BASF and what you have done for the community,” he said. “Four years without an accident is very hard.”

District 32 Sen. Neil Riser, who as a state senator serves on the senate committee that deals with workman’s compensation issues, also congratulated the company for their safety record.

“If you don’t have a high injury rate, that saves a lot of money and energy,” he said.

District 21 Rep. Andy Anders agreed, and said safety is a team effort.

“It makes your life a lot easier when you watch out for the other employees,” he said.

Five years ago BASF started a “Journey to Excellence” program with the goal of having 100 percent of the employees 100 percent committed to safety 100 percent of the time, Toby Frierson with BASF said.

The company has adopted a zero incident mindset as a cornerstone of their company culture, John Richard with BASF said.

“We will not place production above safety,” Richard said.