The road less cycled

A Letter to the Editor I sent while all steamed up after reading the July 6 edition of the Abbotsford News.

I am tired of hearing the policy of pricing carbon dioxide emissions through carbon taxes and carbon trading systems trashed and mis-represented.

Yes, these new polices will have a slight impact on the price of gas at the pump as well as on consumer goods at the store. But this will be nothing compared to the rise in fuel prices we have seen in recent years. I remember when gas sold for 70c/litre. I’m young, obviously – I’m sure there are those who remember gas being half that or less. Now we are seeing double those prices and more. That’s right – a 100%+ increase, incrementally, in a few short years. What sort of reaction did this provoke from consumers?

That’s right; nary so much as a squeak of protest. Barely more than a grumble of discontent. We just took the price hikes square on the chin, and kept right on pumping and pushing that gas pedal.

Compare that to the carbon tax – a miniscule increase by comparison – and you’d be forgiven for thinking the sun would never rise again judging by the outcry in the media.

The difference? The gas price increases we’ve seen, independent of any kind of carbon tax, are market induced, while the carbon taxes are government driven.

When the markets impose price increases, we grin and bear it. Yet when the government enacts proactive policy, such as the carbon tax, an essential component of tackling one of the greatest threats to face mankind, all hell breaks loose. People talk of breaking out the pitchforks and kicking out those bums in elected office -the very ones who actually have the stones to take the necessary steps to combat climate change. (and even for those who do not yet accept the reality of climate change, you must agree that reducing pollution is a positive step).

People, give your heads a shake. What is this holy grail known as “the market”? It is simply the result of unilateral decisions made at the board room level of the top corporations, banks, and yes, some governmental institutions, in tandem with some good ol’ supply and demand. It is not some irresistible force which we must all be slaves to. At the end of the day, it is the consumer who determines how the markets will play out by way of what we do and do not consume.

We all know that oil and gas are limited resouces. Why not begin the shift away from them now, rather than waiting until every last barrel has been extracted from the pristine natural habitats where it is found? Why not embrace change now, and create a gradual transition that is under our control, rather than be shocked when we can no longer live in the high consumptive ways we are so accustomed to?

For once, our governments are taking sensible measures to motivate us to adapt to a different future. Let’s take our heads out of the proverbial tar sands, cut them some slack, and see if we can’t biccycle to work or the grocery store next time around.