Final Word from Wednesday, June 11, 2008
If we all started riding bicycles, the Chinese would be delighted, because it would leave more fuel for them to run their factories and raise their standard of living. Should the West voluntarily give up its "market share" in the consumption of oil, just as we've surrendered market share in the production of manufactured goods? Should we take the inevitable loss of our dominant position as gas guzzlers lying down? In the politically correct age of energy conservation and carbon offsets, this might sound sacrilegious. But is anyone considering this aspect when deciding whether to cut fuel taxes? Green economists who want to shackle us are instead gleeful that higher fuel prices are leading to lower oil consumption and greater use of alternative fuels. But let's protect the Western way of life. Support Jiří Paroubek's call for a cut in the fuel tax! And spend the extra crowns topping off your SUV.[Czech Republic ČSSD sports utility vehicle petroleum gasoline]
Glossary of difficult words
gas guzzler - an automobile (or person) with high fuel consumption;
to (not) take something lying down - to (not) allow oneself to be treated badly;
carbon offset - a financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse emissions;
sacrilegious - representing a violation or misuse of something regarded as sacred;
to shackle - to chain or restrain someone (an allusion to Václav Klaus's book, "Blue Planet in Green Shackles");
gleeful - exuberantly or triumphantly joyful;
to top off - to fill up a nearly empty tank with fuel;
SUV - sports utility vehicle (a gas guzzler).