Fuel shortages: a self-fulfilling prophecy

So the Conservatives, who are supposedly running the country, have reversed their stance on the supposed fuel shortages due to the supposed strike by tanker drivers this week. Our thouroughly retarded Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has now been asked to resign over comments he made advising storing petrol in jerrycans. This was days after drivers in the Unite union voted in favour of strike action. We've been told “no need to panic-buy”. Then we were advised to fill up to 3/4s of a tank. The government seem not to be able to make their minds up over what we should do. Well, let's suppose I throw a bit of light on this ridiculous situation.

As it happens, the unions have said there would be no strike after all.

But there WILL be a fuel shortage, regardless. Why? Because people have already queued, all over the country, for their petrol. The moment drivers hear the phrase “fuel shortage”, what do we do? We top up our cars, no matter how full they already are. Why? Because we want what we can get our hands on.

Occasionally I blog about greed, a trait we all have within us. This, I usually explain, is a part of human nature. When we are posed with a threat of any kind, we prepare to handle that threat. We prepare to see ourselves through that ordeal with as much resources and as few potential problems as possible. Hence, the moment drivers hear “fuel shortage”, they drive straight to the nearest forecourt. Some say this is a knee-jerk reaction. I say, preparedness makes you powerful. We're all paying for the fuel. Once it's in the tank, it's ours 'til we use it.

Not to mention, if the media gets wind of this potential fuel shortage- which, this week it did- and it promotes the situation as just that, the concept becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Tanker drivers strike. So there'll be no fuel. So people buy what's left. So there'll be no fuel. Those who have the time and the money, and want the upper hand, will dive into the forecourt and fill up. People will call them stupid, until the tanker drivers DO strike. Which they may. In the meantime, the knee-jerked won't have to get fuel for a while, so that's one thing off their minds.

But seriously, until we're living in a Mad-Max style apocalyptic vision of hell, don't be a 'tard like some people and start filling up jerrycans. We'd all prefer that the Watford Gap didn't look like this any time soon: