Ontario's Gasoline Shortages

[Mark Parsons]

This CTV news report tells all us Ontarians that we may never see lower gas prices. We just use too much gas. Gasoline marketing folks have discovered that small supply chain hiccups lead to immensely gross profits. How many hiccups can be strung together until Joe Public realizes the scam?:eek:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070227/ont_gas_070227/20070227?hub=Canada

Glad I don't have to drive anywhere this week.....:D

Mark

[Mark Parsons]

While I'm on a rant roll I will float out a favorite one that is near and dear to my heart.

As a society we have done a very good job of shipping all of our industrial manufacturing jobs to China. In less than a generation China will hold the world's industrial wealth. They will be key to manufacturing any product. They almost are there now. The free trading nations that have shifted all this wealth to China will have a very tough time finding good technical jobs for their children.

I am speculating that China will soon enter the world automotive market with product and prices that can't be ignored. The last bastion of free world industrial wealth will then shift east.

Shopped at Walmart lately? Yes? Thank yourself for supporting this wealth transfer. How many items on Walmart's shelves are not made in China? I speculate a very small fraction of their SKU's.

Wait, you say. The consumer benefits greatly from this. We spend less to get lots more consumer goods. Good plan. That way all our kids flipping burgers and stocking shelves at Walmart can afford the good life. Unlikely.

The bright spark is that in a generation or two, China will have brought their labour costs up somewhat and ours will have gone down so far that a level playing field will exist. Will we have the technical know-how then?

Mark

[Joe Blake]

Call me cynical, but it seems to me us "civilised countries" don't just need sustainable energy - we need a sustainable source of cheap exploitable labour. Every time we seem to find one it turns round and becomes a "tiger economy". Maybe our time will come and we'll become the "sweat shop of Asia" instead of a "sweat shop in Asia". (Well, Australia is in Asia, according to some).

As you sow so shall you reap etc ...

*Wry Smile*

Joe

[Mark Parsons]

Life truth.

[Mark Parsons]

Thanks Dalton. :rolleyes: Duh....

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=81c5f295-f74d-41a1-8c2d-c7ba86b2e379&k=43574

My travel stint the last couple of days allowed me to experience 401 service centers with fill up restrictions of 75 liters.

Please offer to sell me a highway rated vehicle that doesn't suck gasoline.:(