Persian Protests
How about that! Iranians are angry, and they aren't going to take it any more. Referring to what - kindly explicate....?Their isolation internationally, the censure brought upon them by the United Nations in retaliation for their government's determination to proceed in attaining nuclear sufficiency, not for energy, but for the purpose of amassing nuclear armaments? Not that?
Well, let's see... Anger over the declaration by their nutbar President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government of its intent to annihilate another neighbour-state? No? Hmmm, how about acute annoyance over the growing strength of fanatical literalists who appear to govern behind the scenes? No.
The crack-downs on university students protesting the limits to questioning a theistic regime's strictures? No.
Protests against the constraints placed on women's human rights? No?
Well, give me a break, what's it all about? Oh, wait a minute; I'll guess again. Iranians aren't thrilled at the deleterious regional role their political masters are playing in setting off sectarian violence. Um, no?
All right: their lack of freedom of assembly, of speech, of religious choice, of mode of dress, of protest, of female attendance at and participation in sports events?
WHAT!!? Oh, they're annoyed. They're fed up. They've been inconvenienced. Their bottom line has been affected. Hey, you're putting me on.
One of the largest extractors of fossil fuels, the fourth-largest oil exporter in the world is imposing fuel rationing? In a bid to become more self-reliant? WOT!!?
Uh, they have never developed adequate refining capacity. Well, that's foresight for you. You've got the raw resources, but then you ship it out for refining elsewhere, and re-import it for domestic use. Dumb. Really dumb.
So, you're saying that Iranians have paid for heavily state-subsidized oil and gas up until now? A fraction of its actual cost; the cheapest in the world at $.11.5 per litre. Wow. And demand for energy is on the upswing.
What an incredible formula for economic disaster. So they're introducing rationing and price rises to curb demand. That'll do it. Spoon-feed people the necessities of pedestrian life for long enough and they become accustomed to it.
Long-term planning in this case appears to be that drivers will henceforth purchase daily gasoline allocations four months in advance. Private vehicles to get 100 litres of gasoline a month. Paid for with electronic smart cards. Sounds cool, very technologically advanced. Very responsible, in a civic manner.
In response to which Iranians have been doing what? Torching gasoline stations and shouting invective at the government? No kidding!
Labels: Human Fallibility, Justice, Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, June 28, 2007
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