Comrade Marcel
30th May 2004, 03:22
PRESS RELEASE - May 29, 2004
Marxist-Leninist Party Stand on Oil Prices and Democracy
The Canadian people have no effective means to control the oil resources in their own country. They are at the mercy of the oil and gas monopolies which dictate oil and gas policy to the people. This is facilitated by governments which provide this so-called monopoly right with a guarantee so that the monopolies can act with impunity. Canadian democracy must reverse the situation and governments in the service of the people must dictate oil and gas policy to the monopolies.
The myth that there is nothing Canadians can do about high prices because they are at the mercy of global supply must be put to rest. The fact remains that Canadians have no effective means to discuss or enforce a national energy policy. Even a simple matter such as enacting the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol is blocked by the oil and gas monopolies and dismissed through the annexation of the Canadian economy to the U.S., which has officially rejected Kyoto. Alternate energy and transportation methods are consistently thwarted by the monopolies that control the auto, aerospace and energy industries.
Furthermore, Canadians have no effective means to set national oil and gas prices that serve the needs of nation-building. The oil and gas monopolies use the dogma of prices set in the international market to fatten their pockets and steal the people's social product. Canadian airline, truck, transit, train, car and industrial fuel prices must be set by taking into account the vast inter-regional distances within the country and the needs of the national economy. Without democratic control of energy production, supply and prices, any talk of nation-building or protecting Canada's material wealth, future prosperity and natural environment is empty rhetoric.
Canadians can establish an effective energy policy to restrict the monopolies. The U.S. monopolies see Canadian crude oil and natural gas as their own private source to plunder at will. They have no concern for the international environmental consequences of the unrestricted burning of fossil fuels or the Canadian people's national interests. Sales of Canadian oil and natural gas to the U.S. and the rest of the world could take into account the natural and social consequences of the burning of fossil fuels. The Canadian government could stand up to those countries such as the U.S. that refuse to abide by even the most elementary international protocols to protect the social and natural environments. Bilateral sales of fossil fuels to socially irresponsible regimes such as the U.S. could be carefully controlled through rationing and high prices to discourage consumption and divert social product to the protection and development of the social and natural environments. Those countries that uphold social responsibility in their energy use could be rewarded with cheaper fuel so that they can divert more of their own resources to further developing and protecting the social and natural environments.
Canadians want a government which accepts and upholds the social responsibility that comes with their stewardship of a nation that is an important source of fossil fuel. They are faced with finding how to develop effective means to uphold their collective responsibility as stewards of this great land and not allow the oil and gas monopolies to exploit and ruin the natural and social environments both here and abroad.
The Marxist-Leninist Party program is to end the dictatorship of the oil and gas monopolies over the energy sector and reverse the annexation of the Canadian economy on the basis of the democratic renewal of the decision-making process. The MLPC calls on all Canadians to develop a mass democratic movement to restrict the monopolies and reverse the annexation of the economy by discussing and putting in place an effective national energy policy that includes democratic control of prices for crude oil, gas and natural gas, and their socially responsible distribution.
Marxist-Leninist Party Stand on Oil Prices and Democracy
The Canadian people have no effective means to control the oil resources in their own country. They are at the mercy of the oil and gas monopolies which dictate oil and gas policy to the people. This is facilitated by governments which provide this so-called monopoly right with a guarantee so that the monopolies can act with impunity. Canadian democracy must reverse the situation and governments in the service of the people must dictate oil and gas policy to the monopolies.
The myth that there is nothing Canadians can do about high prices because they are at the mercy of global supply must be put to rest. The fact remains that Canadians have no effective means to discuss or enforce a national energy policy. Even a simple matter such as enacting the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol is blocked by the oil and gas monopolies and dismissed through the annexation of the Canadian economy to the U.S., which has officially rejected Kyoto. Alternate energy and transportation methods are consistently thwarted by the monopolies that control the auto, aerospace and energy industries.
Furthermore, Canadians have no effective means to set national oil and gas prices that serve the needs of nation-building. The oil and gas monopolies use the dogma of prices set in the international market to fatten their pockets and steal the people's social product. Canadian airline, truck, transit, train, car and industrial fuel prices must be set by taking into account the vast inter-regional distances within the country and the needs of the national economy. Without democratic control of energy production, supply and prices, any talk of nation-building or protecting Canada's material wealth, future prosperity and natural environment is empty rhetoric.
Canadians can establish an effective energy policy to restrict the monopolies. The U.S. monopolies see Canadian crude oil and natural gas as their own private source to plunder at will. They have no concern for the international environmental consequences of the unrestricted burning of fossil fuels or the Canadian people's national interests. Sales of Canadian oil and natural gas to the U.S. and the rest of the world could take into account the natural and social consequences of the burning of fossil fuels. The Canadian government could stand up to those countries such as the U.S. that refuse to abide by even the most elementary international protocols to protect the social and natural environments. Bilateral sales of fossil fuels to socially irresponsible regimes such as the U.S. could be carefully controlled through rationing and high prices to discourage consumption and divert social product to the protection and development of the social and natural environments. Those countries that uphold social responsibility in their energy use could be rewarded with cheaper fuel so that they can divert more of their own resources to further developing and protecting the social and natural environments.
Canadians want a government which accepts and upholds the social responsibility that comes with their stewardship of a nation that is an important source of fossil fuel. They are faced with finding how to develop effective means to uphold their collective responsibility as stewards of this great land and not allow the oil and gas monopolies to exploit and ruin the natural and social environments both here and abroad.
The Marxist-Leninist Party program is to end the dictatorship of the oil and gas monopolies over the energy sector and reverse the annexation of the Canadian economy on the basis of the democratic renewal of the decision-making process. The MLPC calls on all Canadians to develop a mass democratic movement to restrict the monopolies and reverse the annexation of the economy by discussing and putting in place an effective national energy policy that includes democratic control of prices for crude oil, gas and natural gas, and their socially responsible distribution.