For those old enough to remember rationing, following the Second World War, the scenes at petrol stations across southern England will be reminded of the interminable queues they themselves endured for food..
This time, it's gasoline. With Unite members threatening strike action from petrol haulers over the Easter holiday, thousand, literally thousands, of cars are lining up to fill their tanks. The problem has reached such a level, that Dorset Police have asked Petrol stations to close, because those lining up on the roads are becoming a hazard.
Now, Labour's Ed Milliband has called this a catastrophic blunder by the coalition government.. saying the Conservatives in particular, are to blame for their tax regimen on gasoline. Yet, oddly enough, one BP station which is suffering lines and lines of cars, is charging some 5p a liter less, than a Texaco just down the road, which is not being mobbed by motorists. This would suggest that the Gas Companies themselves have some leeway in adjusting their prices.
Since 2010, the price of petrol has risen from an average of £1.10/liter, to today's £1.53.. £1.60 for diesel. It must be said that this is a direct response to increased VAT, but this, again, is part of the austerity program the LibDems and the Conservatives wrote out to bring this island back on an even economic keel.
Just whether these plans are having any effect is moot.. one economic think tank claims this morning that we're back into 'recession'.
A disturbing development in all of this, is the 'news' being broadcast.. we're not being given the whole picture, nor are be being informed of the long range plans to end this virtual collapse of the EU, and what markets we here are developing to replace those in Europe who will certainly face 'bankrupt governments' in the not so distant future..
This petrol panic is only the beginning of what may prove to be a long, hot, summer.
More later.