Like the proverbial greased lightning, here we are again on another True North No Gas Friday. We can fight gas gouging by the Oil Barons in the typical Canadian Way — quietly. Simply don’t buy gas on this and future Fridays. Just let your imagination free for a moment to consider the reaction of the legal bandits who want to keep their record profits to themselves, when they discover that the Canadian driver is mad as hell and won’t take it anymore. As more and more join True North No Gas Fridays, the impact will be felt. The oil giants will tremble and begin to think that it’s in their own best interest to stop fueling resentment by giving the driver a share of their loot by reducing prices at the pumps. Big Oil will push as far as it can while the public remains docile. Big Oil doesn’t care about your resentment, just so long as you don’t act on it. They are, however, sensitive to action.
Right now you can bet that the Oil Barons are looking over their shoulders at the resistance to high gas prices that has erupted in Nigeria. We have three stories today on developments in Nigeria as a result of gas gouging. One is a report of a passive entrepreneur who supports the strike of oil workers by staying home. Then we have a report on the peaceful conduct of the strike. Third, about a violent confrontation between the Nigerian army and militants. It defies rational logic that in oil rich Nigeria there should be such abject poverty that is further offended by relatively high and rising gas prices.
Our standard of living is higher here than in Nigeria. The gouging prompts resentment but hardly justifies violence. But there is no better time than now for drivers to register their outrage in our quiet Canadian Way. Today, as on all future Fridays: Don’t be Shy! Just don’t buy!
Best wishes for the weekend. Lots to read here. See you Monday.
Looking forward
Carl Dow
Editor and Publisher
True North Perspective