We were alone.
On my drive to work yesterday morning I noted that oil was down. The price of gas was coming down, both typical occurrences during an election. On my way back to work from lunch I saw this was no longer the case. I waited for the cavalry to come and put an end to the price gouging that was occurring. The run on the pumps was like something I’d seen as a young boy during the 70s. It occurred to me that I actually needed gas and that I would have to enter the fray.
During a 40 minute wait, making conversation with my fellow travelers, I noticed a young mother coming out of a public restroom carrying water jugs with a small child behind her. It seemed surreal as I imagined the scene was common near Galveston Bay. I wasn’t in Galveston Bay, I was north of Greensboro and there was no hurricane looming. Yet people were lined up up out into the street to purchase gas that had been increased at least $1.50 per gallon since my ride to work.
There was in fact a crisis, our elected leaders created it by not informing the public of what was getting ready to happen. There was no public service announcement, no press conference called, we were left to decide how to best fend for ourselves. it became clear to me that I was right about oil and our future, the solution to our energy crisis must must come from within ourselves.I also knew that I was right in my decision to enter this election, everything must change.
I knew there were laws to prevent price gouging during emergency situations yet no one was doing anything to stop it. It was just then as I went inside to pay, I saw political mudslinging on the television above the counter blaming Elizabeth Dole for what was going on outside. I wondered what my state senate representative was doing at that time other than using the panic for her political gain. Kay Hagan wanted you to believe that Elizabeth Dole had single-handedly raised gas prices.I have to say the timing of the ads was sheer genius in a diabolical way, much like an ambulance chasing attorney at the scene of a plane crash.I just watched in disbelief.
In lieu of responding to the situation and trying to stop what was happening to people who are already struggling to purchase fuel and pay their other bills, it seems it was more important to somehow hang this on her opponent’s head than it was to be in the streets doing anything about it. She was not alone I didn’t see any elected official other than Billy Yow, trying to raise a point about how despicable what was happening was.
No one else saw fit to stand up on the behalf of the people they had asked to allow them to represent them.At some point these people had pledged to stand up for the citizens in times of need,Yet I suspect most of them just stood in line like I was doing.I hope you will remember the signs that did not display numbers late yesterday afternoon, these are the establishments you should never frequent again and remember they took advantage of the public simply because they could.
The opportunity to stop this had not passed by this morning, as I was out in the community shaking hands, delivering signs, gas prices still loomed near five dollars. The hurricane had come ashore while we slept, the destruction of the refinery that allegedly justified the price spike had not occurred yet the prices have not gone down. neither has my contempt for the people who did this to us.
Regardless of your thoughts in the upcoming election, you surely must realize we were alone yesterday afternoon. We must vote for change in the upcoming election. The status quo failed us Friday afternoon.Should you choose to elect anyone who has had years to exhibit leadership qualities and failed to do so, then expect more of the same.
I urge you to spend more time getting to know the candidates this year and shake things up.Vote for change ,vote for candidates who may lack experience but make up for it in their desire to change the leadership that failed us Friday afternoon and will remember who they work for.
