June 17, 2022 – For those on fixed incomes, or lower incomes, or working class incomes, or middle class incomes, the announcement by Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is a slap to the face.
Many of its facets are not new, but already in her last budgets. Many of the facets are promises down the road.
There are people who literally cannot afford to drive to work or keep their cars due to gas prices over $2.00 per liter. And yes, while gas prices are up all over the world due to gouging; if the oil companies are seeing huge profits, and the government is seeing record globs of gas tax cash pour in, clearly we peons are the ones getting stiffed.
Ms Freeland clearly had two objectives here. Take steps to fight inflation and assist those being devastated by it. If you’re mortgage is about to renewed you know what this writer is scribbling about.
For many living in rural and even suburban areas a car is a persons legs. It’s their freedom. It’s the ability to turn on the radio and drive to get a break from what is going on in this country. That is being taken away to many because of #fuelrape.
Canadians right now are fighting a housing crisis brought on by government neglect at all levels. They are fighting a food crisis which has chiefly been brought on by high fuel prices. And many of us are in survival mode and having to make big choices just get by day to day.
These are pressures that many simply cannot endure. And these are the challenges that Ms Freeland Charlie Brown’ed in this weak sauce attempt to look like something is being done to help.
It again shows how weak political leadership is in this country.
jamie@cornwallfreenews.com
Cutting gasoline tax enables more war profiteering by corporations that produce, refine, and market petroleum products (and note: the food conglomerates are right behind them)… and BTW, corporate bodies claim the rights of people, but without the inconvenience of obligations or conscience.
But regardless of the criminal gouging, if more Canadians prudently bought thriftier vehicles based on function instead of looks, vanity, and their own gratification, gas wouldn’t be in short supply, it would be cheap, and we’d need less of it.
But don’t stop there…
– If Canadians didn’t eat so much food prepared outside the home in restaurants or takeout, fewer would be short on groceries…
– If Canadians with little money at any one time quit spending it on feel good and feel like I’m middle class gratification (constant phone upgrades, data, lattés, throw away fashion, etc.)…
– If Canadians understood that credit cards are the gateway drug to perpetual debt and if they took the time to build savings — rather than a longer time to pay off debt…
– If more Canadians paid for everything up front and in full (mortgages and possibly vehicles an exception)…
…if more Canadians did these things, fewer would live the life of indentured servants of the f’ing corporations that prey on them, and soak them at every step of the way.
Life would be less about worry and whining, and more about family, simple joys, and the things that nobody sells and you can’t buy… time and energy to live a life and share it.
And yet….. 🙂