Deeper Shade of Green

I have recently received a power point presentation via email explaining how we are gauged by the gas companies and to take the matter into our own hands to do something about it. The idea was simple: spread to word to many people and they will do so in turn and soon enough we’ll have more then a million people that would buy gas anywhere but Petro-Canada and Shell. Then those companies would be obliged to lower prices and then others would follow.

I thought it was an interesting idea. After all, the gas companies are gouging us and so is the government. I loved it when few years back, when the price of gas started to go up, I heard a government politician on radio dissuading angry callers by telling them the government was not at fault over gas taxes, because the gas taxes don’t go up if the price of gas goes up.

Are you for real? Do we have a big “L” stamped on our foreheads? I mean come on! Government gas taxes are a percentile taxes, thus the more expensive the gas, the more taxes you pay.

I strongly disagree with the original boycott idea. I want gas prices to remain high! Why? Because then and only then enough people will consider alternate modes of transportation and buying fuel efficient vehicles. If the price goes down, most people won’t care again. And what good is it to have money saved up from all the cheap gas? Ads everywhere will convince you to spend it on stuff you apparently need in order to be happy. And which you will throw out in few months again. And buy new stuff to be happy again. Screw that! I rather pay higher gas price, discourage thus people from driving gas guzzlers and opt for alternatives and live in a healthier environment. Because once our fragile environment is gone, it won’t matter much how much money you saved up. It will be game over – for all of us!