Stunts Are Not Enough

AllNewsCycleKiller
NoFillerVille

So.

I'm listening to the news this morning, and after the inspiring story of the octagenerian couple that was finally able to get married fifty some years into their relationship in California, I also heard an item that clearly has the local media's maw's attention.

And that second item also made it clear where Mr. T., Bill Tieleman, was coming from/telegraphing when he took a break from all things RailGate last week to make a fuss about this:

Big oil companies are already hosing you at the gas pumps and now Premier Gordon Campbell wants to do the same – are you going to let him?

Because in just 20 days this province’s gas prices will go up even more – thanks to the B.C. Liberal government’s new “carbon” tax that will add 2.4 cents a litre immediately to your gas bill and then keep going up.


So.

Today's 'Axe The Gas Tax' press release thingy from Carole James and the B.C. NDP is a good idea, at least in terms of pure, raw politics.

And, as such, I would also agree that they should grab as many doppler echoes as they can.

With stuff like this.

But.

It is not enough.

Because, in my opinion, they have to have to hit fast and hard with something new by the next newscycle so that what they are doing here doesn't get hammered down (and/or before folks realize that by taking this action they are actually aligning themselves, in simplistic media maw terms at least, with a certain group of neoStraussians from Albertario).

And besides, don't forget that Ms. James also has to deal with a the biggest media machine this province has ever seen.

Which is not CTV.

Or Global.

Or CanWest.

Or Corus.

Or even a guy named Holman.

Instead it is a thousand-headed hydra known as Mr. Campbell's 'OIC' network.

****

Given all that, what should the James gang do next?

Well, my advice is to do a reverse Taylor.

As in Carole.

Which means that first you beat up on some egregious business bunds (maybe forestry, maybe coal bed methane, maybe rapacious mining, maybe not).

Then, by this time next week start making nice with carrots to real green and really sustainable businesses with really super-duper tax breaks for doing the right and righteous thing.

OK?

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