Canada's Freedom Convoy and civil disobedience
The recent caravan of trucks travelling across Canada to the nations capitol in Ottawa, is our version of a Super PAC. The imbroglio began when truckers crossing into Canada from the U.S. be fully vaccinated according to the federal governments insistence. Truckers took exception as they are just trying to make a living and oppose needing a vaccine in order to work. I traveled with a friend in the late 1970's in his rig through the mid west and back into Canada. Traffic at one point was backed up from Illinois to Indiana. This is a job not for the faint of heart and after this trip realized this was not my cup of tea, even though crossing the Mississippi was picturesque as were the snowbanks in Minneapolis that were as tall as the cab (it was February.) Hard to argue for global warming at this juncture. Truckers have a nomadic life-style and it is very challenging without seeing their family's for long periods of time, disjointed sleep patterns, truck stop food, and in recent times, the threat of being truck - jacked for cargo, etc. Ultimately, the truckers are always under duress from their employers to deliver goods in a timely manner. So, for the Canadian government to add another wrinkle to their job is the straw that broke the camel's back for many of them.
Ian Austen who writes for The New York Times and is a Canadian correspondent is getting plenty of emails like this: ‘I went out to get groceries, I got yelled at, I got harassed. I got followed down the street, I’m so afraid that I can’t go out, Catherine McKenney, the city councilor for the area, told me on Thursday afternoon. “The residents in this downtown have just been completely abandoned during a national crisis and an occupation of our city. And there just is no urgency from the federal government, provincial government and, quite frankly, even our own police.” Three women this week stood down a truck in the middle of their street and gave him the thumbs down as a signal to stop the horn honking. He turned around. The constant horn honking is terrifying residents. The Retail Council of Canada said 19.7 million CDN will be lost in sales.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance says that most of its truckers are vaccinated, while the organizers of the protest oppose the criteria that a vaccine is required in order to work. As the truckers converge on Ottawa, the costs to the city are 3 million dollars. Many businesses and individuals are inconvenienced and are facing truckers who are unafraid in the interior of their 13.5 feet tall by 28.5 feet long truck.
Most of us are fed up with restrictions and quarantine as we are in the midst of a third outbreak with the Omnicron BA.2 upon us from its origins in South Africa. In the U.S. 64% of the population is fully vaccinated with 26% having received the booster. In the U.K. 71%/55% while globally 52% are fully vaccinated. 79.7% of Canadians are fully vaccinated according to 'Our World in Data.'
John Hopkins reports that 5,726,106 Global deaths as of Feb.4, 2022. Health permitting, individuals should get inoculated. It is the best way to reduce casualties and hospitalizations. The global economy can rebound much quicker, too. It will also send a message to zero COVID tolerance China, that individual rights can be respected by those who want to take responsibility for their place in the community by placing fewer people at risk. If China authorities had taken a zero tolerance approach dating back to the SARS outbreak in 2003, Beijing may have controlled COVID more effectively this time around. That said, the truckers convoy is a blemish on the Canadian trucking industry reputation and the small group of dissenters appear to have an OMG "outlaw motorcycle gang" approach to dealing with COVID restrictions. Maybe truckers are the new "one - percenters." The American Motorcycle Association claim that 99% are law abiding and the other 1% patch and represent the groups involved in criminal activity.1 Or, this may be part of the new protest movement and Canadians need to get used to disruptions on occasion.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once had police go door to- door looking for kidnapped diplomats in the October Crisis of 1970 and police stood down aboriginals who were upset of land being used for a golf course during the OKA Crisis of 1990. While this movement is not as serious, it looks to spiral as it heads to Toronto and then Quebec. If criminal activity spikes, local and provincial police forces must get involved to contain the damage and set a precedent for future large scale demonstrations. The truckers have received over 10 million in donations from GoFundMe, however, the account is suspended by GFM for allegations of violence and other illegal activity.
In the meantime, Canadian truckers need to lead by example and with the common good in mind. Truckers need to go back to work and follow the proscribed rules until we're in the final stages of this dilemma. Inconveniencing innocent folks is not very ethical. Despite the inconvenience to the truckers, is this the time for civil disobedience on this scale? There are no martyr's during this pandemic, except for the brave front - line health care workers. ““Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.” - Howard Zinn.
Yes, but, common sense and empathy go a long way at times. "Stay Safe."
1<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4100862/>.
