>you'll quickly realize that the end result is the little guy paying the actual tax via inflation while the big guy actually enjoys larger profit totals
Yes. If the currently available options intended to fix a particular problem don't actually fix the problem while at the same time make the offending business more powerful while making the little guy less powerful...then yes, doing nothing is clearly a better option in the short term.
>If the currently available options intended to fix a particular problem don't actually fix the problem
Sounds like your expectation is too high. Either something stops climate change in its tracks, or it's not worth doing. Small incremental improvements? Nah, it won't solve the problem so let's not bother.
>doing nothing is clearly a better option in the short term.
What's the alternative then?
Implement regulations, forcing companies to increase costs => "enjoys larger profit totals "?
Tax companies only, forcing them to pass them onto consumers => "enjoys larger profit totals"?
Do nothing?