Gas Prices -- Let Them Soar, Let Them Soar, Let Them Soar

Summary

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Going grocery shopping at the Price Choppers on Stafford Avenue this past weekend, I noticed a far greater volume of people sporting reusable fabric shopping bags, and many more "green" labelled products on the shelves. These slight changes in the shopping environment signal that many consumers are finally concerned about global warming. The problem is, most consumers only change what type of fabric softener they use and what light bulbs they purchase. A survey published in the Globe and Mail last week conducted by Harris/Decima suggests as much. The survey of 10,000 Canadians found that although there was strong support for new ways to divert waste, that more people are recycling, and that the purchase of eco-friendly products is on the rise, most people want a solution that won't cost them much.

A great deal of the public debate on climate change places the bulk of the global burden on the government and corporations. While I think both these parties have a large role to play in fixing our mess, I know that living in a free society means they cannot force people to change their habits. If the government was to suddenly legislate a ban on gasoline consumption, you can be sure that there would be rioting in the streets. This is why I hope gas prices jump higher and higher until most people are forced to change the amount of fossil fuels they consume and change the way they transport themselves. It won't be easy and it will cause the price of most commodities to rise, but it's necessary and temporary.

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Gas Prices -- Let Them Soar, Let Them Soar, Let Them Soar

Corey King

Looking out a store-front window facing onto Pembina Highway one morning, I noticed a lot of drivers who are still determined to make their morning commute to work alone. It seems as if nothing is able to change people's lifestyles in the face of global warmi...

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