Some are asking what date is the shutdown & what will happen ?
Here's the what, why, & when of it.
The reason for this shutdown is not to hurt this country in any way shape or form. But is in fact a peaceful method of sending a message to Washington, D.C. That we do indeed need help & our industry is the backbone of life in America as we know it.
The why of it covers issues that you & I as truckers, both O/Os & Co. drivers face on a daily basis. These problems range from excessive Regulations ie., Fuel, Federal & State Fuel tax's, excessive DOT regulations on NON-SAFETY related items, Excessive Insurance Pre., The list goes on & on.
And then you have the energy crisis. Dick Cheney has set the Energy Policy in this country for the last eight years. He must be held accountable.
Big oil, big media & greedy politicians have told us the BIG LIE.
They want us to blame China, India or speculators- anyone but them- for the increase in demand & high fuel cost.
But that's a BIG LIE. Why, because they omit what driving low mileage tanks & humvees all over the desert, or transporting equipment & troops- not just service members but private contractors which outnumber our troop levels, or what effect the surge is having on supply & demand. Did you notice the highest spike in prices at the pump coincided with 'the surge'.
Did you know that the Department of Defense is the biggest purchaser of oil in the world?
Here's the next BIG LIE: Protests are ineffective.
Remember the President of the United States asking the Saudis to increase oil production not once but twice & both times the Saudis refused- even with a multi-billion dollar arms deal on the table, claiming the problem was speculators not supply & demand? But then as soon as Europe erupted in gas strikes the Saudis did a 180 & promised to increase output.
Only 'We the People' can end the lies, the greed and the total theft of our country.
The when of it, is when we as an industry send a Strong message to the otherwise FOOLS in Washington, D.C. that "enough is enough"
We Will Be Heard.
I & Thousands of You have been telling people for Years now, that a change needed to take place. I have received more than a thousand e-mails from truckers who wrote to let him know they are ready to go on strike now. Among them were two drivers associations — both in Florida — with a combined total of more than 100,000 trucks.
Well, here's your chance to Stand Up for Yourself & let The World know We will Stand Strong. "one for all and all for one"
Truckers Plan Strike on September 11th
This message is to all people who don't think they can do without trucks and trucking in general.
If you don't already know trucking move 95% of the items you buy in the store everyday.
The rising fuel costs and the lower rates that some "brokers" give to carriers is the reason behind the strike.
If you think that you don't need trucks...imagine how hard it will be to get gas from the corner store if there isn't any.
Show you're support for truckers...if you see a driver ...thank him for bringing the stuff he hauls to your store.
I created a website www.votestrike.com for you the voters because whichever party you belong to they have failed you.
The website has ambitious goals of how to end the two party system & the third party myth. Modeled after the fall of the Berlin wall, the Polish overthrow of the communist government & the Phillipines removal of Marcos. All accomplished without firing a shot.
But we do not rely on the failed tactics of the past instead we use the election system & the very votes & voters this system relies upon.
And the site also offers campaign funding sources- who's bought off your candidate? As well as your solutions to education, lobbyist, healthcare, illegal immigration, the war on terror, the war in Iraq, crime, drugs, pedophiles, taxes. And a link page with 1000 links to more on these topics.
I'm here to ask you to check it out, it's free. And you can submit content. Thanks for your time, my name is chris.
Strike action by thousands of Spanish and Portuguese truckers produced ominous knock-on effects on food supplies, aviation and industry yesterday, as Lisbon airport ran out of fuel, car factories shut down and petrol stations and supermarkets reported shortages.
In a worrying sign for other European countries that face rising discontent at the spiralling cost of diesel, a third day of strikes generated widespread mayhem and the mood turned ugly after the first casualties of the standoff: two strikers died in clashes on picket lines.
Tourists flying to Lisbon faced delays after the airport ran out of fuel. Some flights were diverted to Porto. Only emergency, military or state flights were allowed out of Portela airport, a spokesman said. Only emergency fuel stocks saved Spanish airlines from similar disruption.
Supermarkets, meanwhile, reported dwindling supplies. Authorities at Spain's two biggest wholesale markets, Mercamadrid, in Madrid, and Mercabarna in Barcelona, reported deliveries of meat, fish and fruit were almost at a standstill.
In Barcelona, at a branch of Caprabo supermarket, there was no fresh fish or meat on the shelves. Shopper María Luz Martínez, 38, said: "The lorry drivers are standing up for themselves because we are all suffering. But the government doesn't appear to be that interested."
As panic buying among motorists continued, petrol stations were running dry. Drivers in Lisbon trying to fill up their cars were turned away. In Spain, "empty" signs hung from pumps at hundreds of stations across the country. Three car firms, Seat, Nissan and Mercedes, suspended production because of parts shortages.
Some ferries from the Balearic islands to mainland Spain were cancelled due to lack of fuel. José María Pozancos, director of Spain's fruit and vegetable export federation, said the strike was costing the industry €25m (£20m) a day.
The action is being closely watched in France, Italy, Britain and other countries where the threat of a similar strike looms. Diesel prices have shot up on average around 40% over the past year amid record jumps in oil prices, and truckers say profits have been all but wiped out. Italian hauliers are planning a five-day strike at the end of the month, while their British counterparts are targeting central London again on September 11th.
With unions talking of coordinated action in several countries at a time and policymakers in Brussels refusing to countenance tax breaks, the fear is that the action in Spain and Portugal could spread. Yesterday truckers in Thailand used a half-day strike to demand financial help.
by
chris rice (59 articles, 39 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 164 comments)
on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 12:14:31 PM
Chris, don't get the idea I'm not sympathetic to truckers plight, BUT to be fair, you cite problems in the U.S. that are alledged to be the root of truckers increased costs over the last 6-8 years and then top it off with the increased diesel costs.
Further, you post details of truckers strikes and resistance in Europe and the U.K. but that post is misleading and falacious. Those truckers are not suffering from the ailments you describe the U.S. truckers are suffering from, their only gripe is the cost of diesel, so I think you are doing yourself a disservice by trying to gain creditability on the backs of the truckers in Europe.
It's strange too, that U.S. truckers have never shown any sympathy to their counter parts in Europe or elsewhere, especially so when they've enjoyed the lowest prices of fuel then any other country has enjoyed, (other then the Saudis) those lowest prices have come at a cost of BLOOD, and in most cases always the BLOOD of Nationals OTHER then U.S.'s.
I never saw any sympathy for them coming from the truckers either, in fact have to confess saw very much the opposite, and even today, this very minute, the selfish self serving attitudes of the U.S. and it's citizens still prevail. It's way past time, you folks over there woke up to the FACT, other Nationalities have been suffering for many years as a consequence of U.S. policies regards fossil fuel producers, many such countries are poor as church mice and kept deliberately so by the oil oligarchs in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Whinning, protesting, striking, ect, ect, are not going to change shite buddy, wake up. The era of fossil fuel is coming to an end, if not already ended. No, I don't believe in 'peak oil',that's bullshit, what I do believe in is the oil oligarchs have killed the goose that laid the golden egg, in their greed, they've brought fossil fuels to such a level they are no longer feasable or financialy reachable by milions of people, thus the demand for their product will be evaporated, people are going to turn to alternatives and the oil oligarchs can stick their oil where the sun don't shine.
YEP, in the meantime there's going t be PAIN, BIGTIME for us all, (not just you truckers) during a period of adjustment whilst the World finds and instals alternative fuels/transport systems, but rest assured, this WILL happen, and when it's done, the oil can stay in the ground. Course whether the Arabs or any other Nationalities will sit idly by and watch their main means of survival and income go down the gurgler remains to be seen, after all, what are these countries without OIL ? So I dare say, there will be BIG difference of opinion between them and the the oil oligarchs, I'd love to be a fly on the wall during some of their talks.
Meanwhile, it would be prudent to terminate your purchase contract of your rig, or plead bankruptcy and do some retraining for alternative employment, maybe in a manufacturing job building electric powered vehicles, I hear Mercedes is going to build a thousand or so electricaly powered versions of the popular Mini to see how they go on the market, if received well, will produce them in their millions.
I do not say this to be mean or nasty, a quick read of todays news via any MSM medium you wish to choose, will tell you the airlines are in serious trouble and staring bankruptcy directly in the face, on the backs of that is the tourist industry, this will also be hit very hard, then the flow on from that industry in accomadation, manufacturing, hospitality industry ect, ect. It;s alos going to effect the food production as well, 99.9 fertilizers are manufactured from fossil fuels today, the agricultural industry have already voiced their concerns at the continuing increases of fetrilizer over the last two years, whereas today they are paying nearly three times as much for the same amount they were pirchasing four years ago. Going by that, it would appear there maybe not too much produce left for you guys to haul around, aye ?
So there you are , the alternative is already beginning, you'd be a wise man indeed , to see the light and make massive changes within your life, it's the only way your going to survive.
Keep in mind too, your Govt's INTERNMENT CAMPS, these were built for a reason, also the term TERRORIST, can also be applied to truckers protesting in the streets, preventing the delivery of daily staples for society to function, so you don't have to be of middle Eastern background to be disappeared off the streets old Buddy. If you've never before in your life, drawn on the cunning the human mind is capable off, now is the time, your going to need ever bit God ever gave you, to get thru the days ahead. Shouting,waving your arms and generaly drawing attention to yourself of the authorities in the streets, is IMHO, under the current conditions, not a very wise way of behaving.
Top of the World to you mate.
by
Eddy Schmid (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 201 comments)
on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 9:36:35 AM
When they came for the gypsys, I said nothing. 'Cause I'm not a gypsy. When they came for the trade unionist, I said nothing....when they came for the muslims, I said nothing...
Corrupt governments that have no public support (Congresses approval rating between 10 to 12% depending upon the poll, the presidents around 20%) are easier to remove then we've been led to believe.
The General Strike is a national call to action, from citizens to other citizens.
It is not about a single issue. It is not an anti-war protest, a gas price protest, a civil rights protest, an election fraud protest. It is not about torture, surveillance, corporate media, or the environment.
This strike is about all these issues and more.
The strike targets key issues facing the American public, issues that have not been addressed in any meaningful way by any branch of government. Unions, corporations, & the major parties have failed to deal with pressing matters of war & peace, income inequality, crime & punishment & the meaning of citizenship itself, it has fallen to the American people to set things right! Public protest is an important part of democracy, just like a free press, a judiciary, and congress. Our causes are many but it's time to make our voices as one.
In order to get involved, here are the five best steps to take now:
1) Sign up with your email address HERE in order to get updates,
e-alerts@votestrike.com
2) Send this URL to all your friends, post it to forums, put it on your personal pages, http://www.votestrike.com There will be ZERO mainstream media discussion of this General Strike BEFORE it happens. ZERO. So, we must BE OUR OWN MEDIA and promote it. Link to this site from sites and blogs. Mention it with links in your comments on blogs. PROMOTE IT.
3) Join the Consumer Fast already underway.
4) YOU will need to plan/set up & hold your own local protest details here: http://votestrike.com/shut_em_down/ I also encourage those of you who have signed up to vigorously promote your protest. To contact local activist groups, through www.meetup.com, www.tribe.net, Myspace, all social networks via the internet, your church groups, etc.
It is imperative for YOU to promote the General Strike for it to have any success. This should include, but not be limited to: writing/publishing articles, essays, poems, posting in forums, commenting in blogs, starting your own blog, newspaper ads, online ads, local random phone calls, letters to editors, opeds, freeway banners, bumper stickers, car signs, yard signs, street signs, every online newspaper allows comments (NY Times, Washington Post, etc.), call in to talk radio shows, print & distribute flyers............
IF YOU FAIL AT PROMOTION BUSH & CO. WILL WALK AWAY.........SCOTT FREE, with congressional medals of honor & big fat speaking checks from Halliburton.,
5) Take the lead and help organize a protest on 9/11.
A web tool being used for practical organization is meetup.com. You can just type in your ZIP code, join a group with which you share ideas/feelings and which meets near your location, and start organizing. Use these key words to search for meetup groups near you. There's bound to be some! 9-11; peace; impeach Bush; civil rights; grassroots; stop PATRIOT Act; democracy for America; human rights; against Bush; election reform
by
chris rice (59 articles, 39 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 164 comments)
on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 9:52:30 AM
3 comments
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