Uh oh….
Qualifying the latest surge in gas prices as a robbery, a Montreal accounting professor called on the federal government yesterday to nationalize the oil industry.
“We have to repatriate this resource,” said Leo-Paul Lauzon, who holds a chair in social economy at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal.
“Oil companies are making immoral profits on the back of this society.”
[…]
Asked yesterday whether he thought a nationalization program would create a similar backlash in Alberta, Lauzon simply responded: “I don’t give a damn about what Albertans think.”
Dusting off the battered anti-American hobbyhorse in preparation for the next federal election flogging, the chatter amongst the usual suspects is rising around playing “hardball” with the US over softwood lumber tariffs*. The projectile of choice?
What else? Oil and gas.
So, by all means, lets hear this strategy to yet again transform western resources into a political football for the electoral gameplans of Liberal and NDP politicians. Speaking as a westerner in the heart of resource country – that’s a grand plan even I can sign on to.
Right after you’ve demonstrated that cutting the flow of Quebec hydropower and Ontario car parts to the US has failed to produce the desired change of heart in the “bastards”.
Until then, don’t call us. We’ll call you.
UpdateMore from Stephen Taylor on a revolting piece of anti-Albertanism in the Globe.
Andrew Coyne seems to back my comments at 8:18 above.
Namely, that we virtually give away our timber while the Americans sell their timber through honest competitive timber auction.
Because of this sloppy practice of ours, we are suffering trade and tarriff fights and now Alberta is becoming upset further with Librano talk of using Alberta crude as a trade weapon.
Thanks Andrew, nice of you to back my views on this.
Andrew Coyne, [The Case for Surrender, Page A-12 Aug 24/05 National Post. Just Google National Post and skip to the last two paragraphs if you are in a hurry. 73s TG
So the dear professor states that oil companies are making immoral profits off the back of society. This is rather strong language coming from a resident of a province that makes an immoral profit by hijacking the hydroelectric power from Newfoundland.
My Pension plan is that I am willing to work until I either have enough saved to live on for the duration or simply die on my work bench. Either way, I won’t spend my life waiting to dip my snout into anyone’s trought.
I have never had to kiss an ass because of that attitude and that my lovelies makes it all worthwhile. I think Kate might agree.
Regarding the East Infection and Alerta oil ..
NEVER underestimate the power of envy.
I just want to point out that L�o-Paul Lauzon is notorious in Qu�bec for being an ultra-leftist moonbat whose solution to each and every problem is to nationalize an industry. Don’t worry too much about him: he simply has zero credibility outside the Far Left.
John B,
Very good point.
Laurent too.
I mean, even if this guy wasn’t on the fringe, he’s a PROFESSOR! I have a degree from UWO which I achieved without ever taking profs seriously. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they know what they’re talking about. They’ve never lived in the real world. That’s why their ideas are often so idiotic.
Warwick, I agree with you. I’m reminded of an economics professor I had a number of times. While he did well with teaching the conceptual and technical, beyond that it was apparent he was a communist. ALWAYS ended lessons with the question: “How does this affect equity and the distribution of income?” Plus he wrote many far-left columns for the local paper with which I disagreed immensely.
So, while he knows formulae and how to express stuff graphically etc., his comprehension of the real world did leave something to be desired. Naturally, I thought for myself, as y’all can see, and I’m glad I studied one course in philosophy, as it made all the difference in the world in inspiring me to start thinking for myself, as it made me realize I was full of dogmatic shit as programmed into my mind via society at large. This is the barrier people must break through in order to acheive true freedom, which necessarily includes the ability to think for oneself.
Maybe this guy could get a job as an advisor to Hugo Chavez. In a recent National Post story he was quoted as saying that capitalism is “hell”. In another news item he was also quoted as claiming that Cuba is not a dictatorship but a “revolutionary democracy”. Lauzon would fit right in.
Economist: “Assume a can opener.” Precedent argument upon request.
Mark
Ottawa
Why is it that Alberta separation only makes news when oil & gas prices are high?