Don’t bail out the oil companies
It would be an absolutely terrible idea to think of bailing out the oil industry with public funds that will be urgently needed for real priorities of people, health, jobs, the environment, retraining, and so much else. The truth of it is that this country can no longer afford an industry that stashes away billions in profits when times are good and going their way, then expects the rest of the nation to sacrifice what they need to prop up the oil patch’s unsustainable business model when that can longer continue.
Even without a climate emergency that was caused by the oil industry’s products, it would be time for a change of direction to a sustainable and equitable future, serving human needs, not corporate greed.
By all means support the workers with retraining, maybe in how to clean up the mess caused by their past activities. But let’s not hear any more talk of surrendering the national interest to paid corporate lobbyists, no matter how shrill and demanding their voices.
Time for some common sense regarding the real needs that lie in our immediate future, please.
Let’s rebuild green!
Rodney Polden
Salt Spring Island