Remember, Smirk standing up there, looking into the eyes of America and warning sternly: "We are in the
dire clutches of an Energy Crisis! We need to drill and burn more! We'll lower your taxes so you can pay
my larcenous buddies in the Oil Biz!" (okay, maybe he didn't say that exactly.)  As prices spiralled out of
control in California, a Democratic bastion. Everywhere except in downtown L.A.
You see, L.A. has a regulated market. No rolling blackouts. No massive swings in prices. The people are
happy, wondering, what energy crisis?

   Now everyone is wondering, what energy crisis? Thanks to the brave Jim Jeffords, the Dems have control
of the Senate. And their investigating the oil Baron's Gouging of the Energy market. Prices, remarkably,
are stabilizing.

   Why should "you" care, some people ask me, you're a Canadian.
Ah, yes, but you see we're tied as one. Our economies are closely linked.

   Example: The Day after the Dems gained control of the Senate, there was a huge run on the gas
stations here in Calgary. Some rumour had gone around to the effect that the Big Oil Co's and their evil
facilitator Enron ( they've just gained a foothold in the Alberta Energy Market, I shudder, we just
deregulated and if not for a Rebate Program from the Conservative Provincial Gov't there would be chaos.)
would jack up the prices for one last quick money grab.
   A week later, gas prices were back down to pre-Smirk Days. Coincidence, the FreeMarket vampires hiss.

   Exploiting the working men and women of this continent seems to have become some kind of Deranged
Sport in the dusty, stagnant halls of the Extreme Right Free Market Profiteers. Maybe that's how these
stained, tainted, bourbon-soaked ancient Fossils get off? It wouldn't surprise me.

   While the process of "deregulation" escalates at dizzying speed heralded in by the Media Mainstream
Whores and their Corporate Masters, nothing is safe. In our free trade agreement with the U.S. in the '80's
our Conservative Prime Minister Brian Baloney ( calling him Ronald Reagan's Lackey would be kind,
terming him a Sold Out Whore would be accurate) allowed in a clause concerning our 'natural resources' -
namely, our water. The clause states that multi-national Corporations have the right to buy and exploit our
resources at a 'fair' price set by the Free Trade Commission. Oh, oh.
   We all know how "fair" international trade agreements are.

   Whenever I get going on this some Right Wing Lube Job always says that "Regulation is socialism. Let
the price fluctuations occur. It works out in the end. It all depends on "What The Market Can Bear.""

   Well, it seems the Market Can Bear quite alot. Including a massive discrepancy between the haves and
the have-nots. The Market seems to be able to bear the systematic exploitation and demonization of the
working poor quite well. Internationally, the Market bravely bears the concerns of social activists as
Rapacious Corporate Multinational Entities make a fortune off the sweat and toil of child labourers.

   I know that we all benefit in comfort and lifestyle because of our Industrial Progress. But wake up
everybody! The data is in. We're killing our planet through a two-tiered attack. The fact of global warming
and ozone depletion, and our refusal to address the massive problem of Global Overpopulation.I can't
believe that so many religions oppose family planning and birth control!

   It's time for a leader with Breadth and Wisdom to step up and steer the course away from our
Lemming-like headlong rush to self destruction. The time has come for Humanity to step back from the
abyss and come to terms with the clear and present danger that encompasses us all. It's our children and
our grand children we should be thinking of.
   What kind of world do you want your kids to inherit?