Rex Murphy: The Liberals are out to lunch on high gas pricesI enjoy reading Rex Murphy.
Here's a new one.
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-the-liberals-are-out-to-lunch-on-high-gas-prices Rex Murphy: The Liberals are out to lunch on high gas prices
Does Chrystia Freeland really believe climate change is what people are thinking about when paying exorbitant prices at the pumps?
“My perspective, this price increase … in fuel costs is a reminder of why climate action is so important, and why as a country we have to work even harder, and move even faster towards a green economy.”
— Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, speaking in Brampton, Ont., on Tuesday.
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Does Chrystia Freeland, can Chrystia Freeland, actually think that this is what goes through the minds of people when they see gas costing more than eight bucks a gallon? That they are glad, they are grateful, that emptying their wallets or fattening their credit-card debt is “reminding” them of “why climate action is so important?”
I’m trying to imagine a couple of people in Gander or Weyburn or Prince George heading to the cash at the local gas station after a fill-up, having a chat. “Wow, over a hundred bucks, and mine is a Civic.” The other guy: “I know. Cost me a $160 for the old pickup. Never seen the like.”
Both pause and reflect. In unison, they break out: “Aren’t high gas prices just great? I was near forgetting. These fierce increases are just the reminder I needed. I mean, about how important climate action really is.” They throw an arm around each other’s shoulder and cheerily waltz to the register.
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Such an exchange just might, considering the state of Canadian comedy, work as a skit. But in no other context.
What, really, does the rise in fuel prices remind most people of? Well, the first thing of course is that they can’t afford the rises. Secondly, that their so-empathetic leaders, obsessed with their high-minded parade on climate change, have lost all contact with how most people are actually reacting to this new crisis. That government is one world, and theirs another, and making life difficult in their world is what the world of government is all about.
It’s also a reminder that their government’s manic fixation on climate virtue-signalling is less a policy than something approaching a medical condition.
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Have you not noticed that moving harder and faster to this delirium called a green economy has left Germany at the mercy of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and is now driving Germany back to oil and gas? And more than any other factor it gave Putin the leverage for his wild foray into Ukraine.
This drive to a green economy, and wedding governments to “climate action” will prove to be, perhaps already is proving, to be one of the great blunders of our age. It has produced in some countries the exact opposite result of its stated purpose: pushed countries back to “sensible economies,” seen a rise in the production and reliance on coal, and seen countries rethinking their precious “Paris commitments.”
Green — as a policy — is a deliberate and (for Ukraine) dangerous folly.
Freeland’s remarks also virtually endorsed inflation as a “good thing.” Because, if as she said, the rise in fuel prices reminds us of the need for climate action, why then would not even greater rises be an even stronger reminder? By that reasoning, today’s surging inflation is to be welcomed. Just the thing to get us going “harder and faster” to the fantasia of a green economy.
And then there was the robotic and inescapable reference to climate action. It is a hallmark of every Liberal cabinet minister that they drop this empty, flat, vaporous phrase.
They must imagine it has the power of some sorcerer’s or witch’s spell — merely utter the magic formula and presto, all argument disappears, all objection vanishes, all need to explain dies when the proper set of words is said. Climate Action. Open Sesame. Same thing.
The minister’s remarks also extend another delusion. That Canada has, or can have, any significant part to play in this climate crusade.
Even if a climate Armageddon is a real possibility, it is demonstrably far beyond the competence or capacity of Canada to make any significant contribution to solving it. Our country is peripheral, at best, in this ‘war.” We don’t count. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continually assert Canada is a key player. We are not.
It’s tiresome to repeat this, but China, India, all developing countries, hold all the leverage, and they are not, repeat not, joining in this Davos-IPCC crusade to plant windmills.
Verily, I believe there is something delusionary about those in high office. Have they wandered so far from the people whom they represent that — in effect — they are celebrating the economic hits raining down on the majority of Canadians?
So here we are. As ordinary Canadians are taking out bank loans before going to the gas station, the finance minister is extolling fuel prices, telling them this is a great thing.
And — hard to believe, I know — some people are puzzled why so many showed up to listen to a certain candidate for the leadership of the Conservative party. Damn populist.
National PostEven if a climate Armageddon is a real possibility, it is demonstrably far beyond the competence or capacity of Canada to make any significant contribution to solving it. Our country is peripheral, at best, in this ‘war.” We don’t count. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continually assert Canada is a key player. We are not.Article contenThe minister’s remarks also extend another delusion. That Canada has, or can have, any significant part to play in this climate crusade.Even if a climate Armageddon is a real possibility, it is demonstrably far beyond the competence or capacity of Canada to make any significant contribution to solving it. Our country is peripheral, at best, in this ‘war.” We don’t count. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continually assert Canada is a key player. We are not.It’s tiresome to repeat this, but China, India, all developing countries, hold all the leverage, and they are not, repeat not, joining in this Davos-IPCC crusade to plant windmillsThe minister’s remarks also extend another delusion. That Canada has, or can have, any significant part to play in this climate crusade.Even if a climate Armageddon is a real possibility, it is demonstrably far beyond the competence or capacity of Canada to make any significant contribution to solving it. Our country is peripheral, at best, in this ‘war.” We don’t count. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continually assert Canada is a key player. We are not.