apple_scruff (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} apple_scruff) wrote,@ 2008-05-01 00:13:00 |
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PLEASE READ!
Those on my flist who live in America know there are many, many problems facing this country at the moment (though I'm sure those who live in other countries are probably facing their own problems), but I need you all to take the time to hear me out. This problem is one that directly affects me and WILL affect you if something isn't done soon.
I am, of course, speaking of the high fuel prices. Those of us who drive know what a pain in the ass it is to fill our tanks. Some of us are lucky and are able to bypass the driving thing to get to work or wherever we need to go, but what about the folks, like my father, who NEED to drive to make a living? He's a truck driver. He needs to drive, but he can't afford to and this is the sad reality that is facing many, many truckers across the nation. Many have not been able to drive for MONTHS because they can't buy gas.
On Monday, April 28th, my father, mother, and I joined a convoy of trucks to Washington DC to protest. People don't even realize that event happened! Though we saw loads of TV cameras/crews, the coverage was scarce. The message, however, did reach the ears that matter. President Bush gave a press conference on Tuesday, April 29th, discussing the EXACT things we came to talk about it. Not too shabby, but it's only the beginning.
Now I know a lot of people just ignore these things because it's just a "truckers problem". This is the WRONG attitude to take. You may think it's a "truckers problem", but it will soon become YOUR problem when there's a strike and you can't buy food among other things. As the old saying goes, IF YOU GOT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT! These truckers can't go it alone and they don't want to. The organization that sent us to DC is named Truckers & Citizens United. Everyone can help.
How? Well, there are few ways (first two points courtesy of OutoftheMist):
I want to thank all of you who have read this post. I know it was long and preachy, but I need to get this message out there for the sake of our country. Let me make this perfectly clear, though. These guys don't want your pity they want your support. Everyone wants something done about the fuel and these folks are willing to stand up and say, "We're not going to take it!" for all of us. I don't (I hope) think I'm asking too much to show a little support.
When my father asked me if I wanted to be in a convoy, I didn't know what to say. I mean, I think anyone who knows a trucker has seen the 1978 film, Convoy, starring Kris Kristofferson. I know I have. Many, many times. As I grew older I started to appreciate it more, even like it, but when I was a kid I dreaded when dad would suggestion watching a movie as a family. Convoy was almost ALWAYS his pick (though Smokey and the Bandit was a close second). The answer to his question was "yes." How many people can say they've been in a convoy before? Not too many and I'm proud to say that I have. When your life somewhat revolves in the world of trucks, being in a convoy is like...it, man. Like winning a gold medal or something!
So preparations were made for me to go along. My dad doesn't own one of those HUGE semis, so his tiny cab only had two seats. A custom bench was made for me. I would sit on this tiny bench and share part of the actual seat with my mother. It was a tight squeeze and my ass is still sore, but I was a lot more comfortable than I thought I would be.
I had to get up at 3am to drive to the meeting spot. There was a guy over the CB (for those who don't know what a CB is, tsk tsk.) who sounded almost EXACTLY like Larry the Cable Guy so mom and I dubbed him 'Mater' (for those of you who haven't seen Cars, TSK TSK!). He kept the trip fun for me. Not only did he sound like Mater, but he was also opinionated. All truckers are. The CB was, like, the first internet. lol. We left at 6am honking our horns (there were also cars aka "four wheelers" and three buses full of regular citizens) and blowing the airhorns, the police escorting our way out of Pennsylvania.
Even though it was raining, our spirits were high when we left. Everyone was excited to be heading to Washington to fight for a worthy cause. That all changed, though, when we hit Maryland. The police escort we were promised never arrived and the back half of the convoy (the half I was in) kept getting separated from the front half. The guys behind us kept pleading for the leader to slow down. They said they were going slow but it wasn't until we hit DC did we all get together again (but it didn't last long). At one point, a truck driver not in the convoy came on the CB and said that he would block traffic in his lane to allow us to pass. He parked his truck at an odd angle so no cars could get by and we all waved and thanked him. He then joined the convoy for an hour and when he left, he got nothing but love from us in the convoy. He was a hero that day.
The moment we hit DC the horn honking/airhorn blowing was back in full force (see a video of it here). People, a few along the way to DC as well, were coming out of their buildings to wave, give us the thumbs up, or honking their horns as we passed (further proof that EVERYONE is suffering from this problem and were happy someone was doing something about it). I don't think I've seen my dad smile so much in my life! He's such a reserved/shy person, but there he was honking away and waving to the people in their cars. After circling around a few times, some wanting to park in the street and just leave the trucks there, we parked at the RFK stadium and had to walk THREE miles to the Capital building. Luckily we had another police escort on our walk. Unfortunately, it started to rain. HARD. Within seconds everyone was soaked and someone allowed us to enter the Senate offices right by the Capital. It was there I not only found out that my foot was bleeding because of my shoes, but I caught a glimpse of John McCain's office! I don't even like McCain, but it was still pretty cool. I saw another senator's office and let me tell you, those things are lush. There are probably things in those offices that cost more than my house (or close to it). When the rain let up, however, we were promptly kicked out.
The rain chased away a lot of the protesters, but there were a few who stayed to speak their peace. One man spoke of his 80 year old, retired parents who went without heat this past winter because they couldn't afford it. They had to wear coats inside their home. Another guy said that he started his own business to make more money and now he's broke. He wanted to send his daughter to college, but can't. Can barely afford to put food on his table. Another guy, and this may have been the saddest, said that he went to Iraq for two years to come back to this. Here's a guy who risked his life to protect this country and it's kicking him in the ass. Now that ain't right. The messages were all the same: we can't afford the price of fuel and something had to be done and fast. May 5th, the trucks get parked (some already are).
We took a city bus back to the stadium (which was good for my poor foot) and left with a few other trucks back home. My dad passed two trucks that were in the convoy on the highway and we all honked at each other. It's sad, but those who went to the convoy are in the minority. They're owner operators so they have to pay for their own gas while company drivers have it paid for them. Those company drivers always think the o/o are a bunch of idiots and that's why, the last time this happened, people died. The truckers were against each other and it's even worse now. Hopefully it won't come to that again.
And that's my convoy trip to DC in a nutshell. It was LOADS of fun, seriously. I really hope to do it again sometime. Oh, and here's a good article about our day.
Also, for those who don't think country music isn't all that weird, Convoy - C.W. McCall
And now for pictures! Sorry they're so huge.
Those on my flist who live in America know there are many, many problems facing this country at the moment (though I'm sure those who live in other countries are probably facing their own problems), but I need you all to take the time to hear me out. This problem is one that directly affects me and WILL affect you if something isn't done soon.
I am, of course, speaking of the high fuel prices. Those of us who drive know what a pain in the ass it is to fill our tanks. Some of us are lucky and are able to bypass the driving thing to get to work or wherever we need to go, but what about the folks, like my father, who NEED to drive to make a living? He's a truck driver. He needs to drive, but he can't afford to and this is the sad reality that is facing many, many truckers across the nation. Many have not been able to drive for MONTHS because they can't buy gas.
On Monday, April 28th, my father, mother, and I joined a convoy of trucks to Washington DC to protest. People don't even realize that event happened! Though we saw loads of TV cameras/crews, the coverage was scarce. The message, however, did reach the ears that matter. President Bush gave a press conference on Tuesday, April 29th, discussing the EXACT things we came to talk about it. Not too shabby, but it's only the beginning.
Now I know a lot of people just ignore these things because it's just a "truckers problem". This is the WRONG attitude to take. You may think it's a "truckers problem", but it will soon become YOUR problem when there's a strike and you can't buy food among other things. As the old saying goes, IF YOU GOT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT! These truckers can't go it alone and they don't want to. The organization that sent us to DC is named Truckers & Citizens United. Everyone can help.
How? Well, there are few ways (first two points courtesy of OutoftheMist):
- Contact your local representatives, your congressman and your Senators and let them know we have had enough. Send letters, make phone calls, sign petitions, (one petition can be located at I DON'T THINK SO [Fuel Petition]), sign it and pass along the web site. Also, tell them you support the TRUCC Act and the H.R.594 bill.
- Join in the 2nd stage of the truckers protest. On May 5th, truckers across the country will be parking their trucks in protest. They are asking the American public to join in and stay home. Can we afford it? No more than anyone else. Can we afford not to? What do you have to lose? Our jobs, our homes, our very existence is being threatened right now.
- There is a boycott on Exxon/Mobile for the entire month of May. Please join in.
- Can't call out on May 5th? Why not post some signs to show your support? Put 'em on your car, in your lawn, post a flyer at work! Anywhere the public can see it and learn more about it to get involved.
- Protests are popping up all over the nation. If you hear about one, why not go down and see for yourself what's going on? It's the best way to truly understand if this is something to support or not, but, really, who doesn't want cheaper gas?
I want to thank all of you who have read this post. I know it was long and preachy, but I need to get this message out there for the sake of our country. Let me make this perfectly clear, though. These guys don't want your pity they want your support. Everyone wants something done about the fuel and these folks are willing to stand up and say, "We're not going to take it!" for all of us. I don't (I hope) think I'm asking too much to show a little support.
When my father asked me if I wanted to be in a convoy, I didn't know what to say. I mean, I think anyone who knows a trucker has seen the 1978 film, Convoy, starring Kris Kristofferson. I know I have. Many, many times. As I grew older I started to appreciate it more, even like it, but when I was a kid I dreaded when dad would suggestion watching a movie as a family. Convoy was almost ALWAYS his pick (though Smokey and the Bandit was a close second). The answer to his question was "yes." How many people can say they've been in a convoy before? Not too many and I'm proud to say that I have. When your life somewhat revolves in the world of trucks, being in a convoy is like...it, man. Like winning a gold medal or something!
So preparations were made for me to go along. My dad doesn't own one of those HUGE semis, so his tiny cab only had two seats. A custom bench was made for me. I would sit on this tiny bench and share part of the actual seat with my mother. It was a tight squeeze and my ass is still sore, but I was a lot more comfortable than I thought I would be.
I had to get up at 3am to drive to the meeting spot. There was a guy over the CB (for those who don't know what a CB is, tsk tsk.) who sounded almost EXACTLY like Larry the Cable Guy so mom and I dubbed him 'Mater' (for those of you who haven't seen Cars, TSK TSK!). He kept the trip fun for me. Not only did he sound like Mater, but he was also opinionated. All truckers are. The CB was, like, the first internet. lol. We left at 6am honking our horns (there were also cars aka "four wheelers" and three buses full of regular citizens) and blowing the airhorns, the police escorting our way out of Pennsylvania.
Even though it was raining, our spirits were high when we left. Everyone was excited to be heading to Washington to fight for a worthy cause. That all changed, though, when we hit Maryland. The police escort we were promised never arrived and the back half of the convoy (the half I was in) kept getting separated from the front half. The guys behind us kept pleading for the leader to slow down. They said they were going slow but it wasn't until we hit DC did we all get together again (but it didn't last long). At one point, a truck driver not in the convoy came on the CB and said that he would block traffic in his lane to allow us to pass. He parked his truck at an odd angle so no cars could get by and we all waved and thanked him. He then joined the convoy for an hour and when he left, he got nothing but love from us in the convoy. He was a hero that day.
The moment we hit DC the horn honking/airhorn blowing was back in full force (see a video of it here). People, a few along the way to DC as well, were coming out of their buildings to wave, give us the thumbs up, or honking their horns as we passed (further proof that EVERYONE is suffering from this problem and were happy someone was doing something about it). I don't think I've seen my dad smile so much in my life! He's such a reserved/shy person, but there he was honking away and waving to the people in their cars. After circling around a few times, some wanting to park in the street and just leave the trucks there, we parked at the RFK stadium and had to walk THREE miles to the Capital building. Luckily we had another police escort on our walk. Unfortunately, it started to rain. HARD. Within seconds everyone was soaked and someone allowed us to enter the Senate offices right by the Capital. It was there I not only found out that my foot was bleeding because of my shoes, but I caught a glimpse of John McCain's office! I don't even like McCain, but it was still pretty cool. I saw another senator's office and let me tell you, those things are lush. There are probably things in those offices that cost more than my house (or close to it). When the rain let up, however, we were promptly kicked out.
The rain chased away a lot of the protesters, but there were a few who stayed to speak their peace. One man spoke of his 80 year old, retired parents who went without heat this past winter because they couldn't afford it. They had to wear coats inside their home. Another guy said that he started his own business to make more money and now he's broke. He wanted to send his daughter to college, but can't. Can barely afford to put food on his table. Another guy, and this may have been the saddest, said that he went to Iraq for two years to come back to this. Here's a guy who risked his life to protect this country and it's kicking him in the ass. Now that ain't right. The messages were all the same: we can't afford the price of fuel and something had to be done and fast. May 5th, the trucks get parked (some already are).
We took a city bus back to the stadium (which was good for my poor foot) and left with a few other trucks back home. My dad passed two trucks that were in the convoy on the highway and we all honked at each other. It's sad, but those who went to the convoy are in the minority. They're owner operators so they have to pay for their own gas while company drivers have it paid for them. Those company drivers always think the o/o are a bunch of idiots and that's why, the last time this happened, people died. The truckers were against each other and it's even worse now. Hopefully it won't come to that again.
And that's my convoy trip to DC in a nutshell. It was LOADS of fun, seriously. I really hope to do it again sometime. Oh, and here's a good article about our day.
Also, for those who don't think country music isn't all that weird, Convoy - C.W. McCall
And now for pictures! Sorry they're so huge.
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