Watch Out! American people.

Oil Speculators have released their speculative forecast on oil price for 2009 & 2010.

Analysts of those oil speculators have speculated that an average oil price will be $75 a barrel in 2009 and it will be rising to $100 in 2010 because of FEAR FACTORS on the supply side of crude oil.

I have located this info from CNN Money.com.

Why are we bailing out those OIL SPECULATORS?

This Administration should act on the OIL SPECULATION BILL as soon as possible.

Or, it will create OIL BUBBLE!

to whom it may concern. We must stop all types of day trading asap. Because its these people that have weaseled themselves into our primary trading floors along with the commodities market
and by trading in such a way so as to make quick profits in markets that traditionally would not allow such practices these people who trade like this have virtually taken over the stock market as a whole and buy and sell primarily by greedy quick profits at their core is fear that causes them to have a major effect in the market more so then they did 15 years ago. In other words they learned how to throw out info to cause others to panic and or sell with out exploring the options and consequences their influence in the commodities market is more powerful than the market leaders realize. and it must be addressed

Speculation needs to be stopped NOW. However, all of you who are complaining how expensive it is to fill your tank, start trading your big SUVs and trucks to more fuel efficient cars and start taking public transportation. I have no sympathy for you and your gas guzzlers.

The future Americna economy will be driven by the development of renewable energy, not by oil drilling.

If we have been misled by the current Administration, another of the same will drive American economy into blackhole.  We will lose our economy power in the world.

American people please wake up!

We do not have global shortage of oil.
We do not have problem of supply & demand.

But, there are huge influx of billions of dollar into crude oil future market.
A Republican-appointed CFTC did not do his job at all and he lets go the oversight of financial oil speculators in the oil future market. So, please open your eyes wide to see a big jump in oil future in a day. Supply & demand does not change that fast in a day!

All financial oil speculators want to offset their losses in Wall St & credit crisis. They suck our money through gas pumps to cover up their huge losses in mortgage crisis.

Understand?

Again, we need to stop EXCESSIVE OIL SPECULATIONS and we need a short & long ENERGY POLICies.

In the long run, we need RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Thanks to the high oil prices, I have an empty tank at home and don’t have the money to refill it. We will have to use portable electric space heaters and burn wood in my stove. I make a little too much to be eligible for LIHEAP. I didn’t need it when oil was under $2 a gallon, but they have more than doubled and my salary has actually dropped because of a plant closure almost 4 years ago. The Democratic controlled Congress refuses to do anything to control the price of energy because they are controlled by the environmentalists and global warming extremist who want to reduce the burning of fossil fuels by keeping the price high.This will backfire as many people like me burn wood because we can’t afford oil and I’m sure burning wood will pollute the air more than my oil burner wood. Hopefully global warming will get here soon so I won’t have to heat my home

I see a nation in economic stress. A nation trying to rebound from the huge fallout of 9/11, the war in Iraq, Katrina, and now the banking collapse. I have news for you. It is going to get worse, much worse. Drilling and producing oil domestically for say 25% of our needs would secure hundreds of millions of dollars that are now leaving the country every day. Would that have a huge positive economic impact?  Yes it would. Would it help America get back on track?  Yes, it would.  Are we pretty much doomed if we don’t drill?  Very likely.  It is going to get really bad if we do not start using our heads. Oil is a necessary part of the economy of any country.  We are fools to think we don’t need to drill. You folks can start walking to work if you think that is the answer, I prefer to drive.

The rich get richer and the poor (and middle classes) get poorer.  Most people in our society are futilely struggling (trying to keep up) with inadequate financial resources (budget breaking prices) attempting to cope with the price gouging outrageous (speculator driven) excessive profit making (continually rising prices) of oil based products such as gasoline, needed to function adequately in today’s society.  If you are representatives of the people (of we the people who elected you), who you promised under oath, to serve fairly, to the best of your ability; don’t have the ways, desire, means to put an end to this travesty (highway robbery) then you are mere impotent puppets, figureheads who become part of the problem by not being part of the solution.

THE PRICE OF OIL IS A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE DISREGARD THE WASHINGTON ELITE HAS FOR THE CITIZEN/VOTER. MY DREAM IS THAT EVERY OFFICIAL UP FOR ELECTION BE DEFEATED AND SENT HOME. NEVER HAS A PRESIDENT NOR A CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN SHOWN SO LITTLE COMPASSION OR CONCERN FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO THE WORK/PAY THE TAXES AND OBEY THE LAWS OF THIS PREVIOUSLY GREAT COUNTRY. PLEASE… HANG IT UP AND COME HOME, YOU HAVE WREAKED HAVOC ON ALL WHO ARE NOT ON THE ‘INSIDE’!

$16 dollar oil jump last few days if that is not oil speculation at its worst then what is!!!!  RIDICULOUS!  the oil value does not actually change this fast. It is speculation that drives these WILD oil swings!

Search Google for monthly gas prices and then look at the five year monthly prices.  Guess what during the 2006 election campaign, the prices spiked for 2 months.  Then as soon as the present Congress and Senate were sworn in, the gas prices immediately went sky high and stayed there. Now who is in the pocket of the oil companies and speculators?

Oil price has been driven up by those financial oil speculators today because those financial oil speculators want to offset their huge losses from the Wall St & the mortgage crisis.

Oil speculators are still there.
We don’t have shortage of oil supply.
In fact, we are having recession in our economy now and our demand for oil has gone way down.

Who are going to bail out American people who are suffering from high oil price?

Is this FREE MARKET?

Ladies & Gentlemen:

Congress has just passed the Oil Speculation Bill.

President Bush will veto this bill.

Can we send massive emails to him?

I don’t think it will work.

No more Big Oil in the White House.

$4 /gall tooooooo much

We have mobile business that has been hurt a lot by oil prices. Between oil prices and housing prices our town is in a devastate state. Has no work and all the working class is forced to move to find work to pay the high oil prices. I would like something done so my Grand kids can have a better life. We have all just about lot everything or in the mist of loosing it all.

What is with the dropping prices of the price per barrel and yet the price at the pump still remains high and goes up not down? Price at the pump should be around $2.75 per gallon not in the $4.30 range on this date 9-17-08.

Where are the politicians, this is pure price gouging for profit of the oil companies. Maybe our politicians all have stock or other interests so that prices remain high. Yes, the price per barrel went down but the price at the pump has gone up. POLITICIANS DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN SUCH TURMOIL OF THE ECONOMY.

Gentlemen,
I really try to remain positive about our country and the state of it’s affairs, but it is getting increasingly hard to do this. There are so many areas that need change and need it soon. Can either of these candidates give us these changes without taking away from other areas of need in elderly healthcare, special needs children and adults and last but not least can they begin the journey of downsizing the war effort? Can you give me answers that I think we all need to hear. And most importantly, after you are elected can you fulfill these promises and make these situations better? Is there still time to do that? I want to think so, but there are so many problems that have been let to go on and on. I just would like to see some big changes in this great country of ours....and while I’m on a roll, please find another source of energy so we don’t have to rely on foreign oil supplies.
Thank you for listening to me.

Kindest Regards,
Linda Matthews

This web site has been a real eye opener.
I think we need another web site that also explains Washington DC lobbying and the “price” of that. I was shocked at the money spent by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae for just lobbying. It is another factor of the american economy and politics as usual in Washington.

I wish someone with the facts would also report to the American public just how much lobbying in Washington goes on and what the cost of that is adding to our economy and tax load.
A site called Stop Washington Lobbying NOW would be another way for the public to know what really goes on in Washington.

“Drill Baby Drill!”

It sounds like Dr Evil & his robotic girls are coming back to earth again.

But, we need to stop oil speculation now and comprehensive energy policy.

Not those drills… for nothing.

High prices have effected all of us, especially in farming where even with high grain prices seed,chemical, fertilizers have all double in price and some are up 4 times what they were 2 years ago. Everybody uses high oil prices now to justify higher prices. It is truly the fleecing of the consumer. With politicians in the back pockets of all lobbyists. Politicians need to remember who they are suppose to work for, not who gives the ‘party’ the most money.
Unfortunately unleaded gas trades as a separate commodity from oil, thus they don’t necessarily move down at the same time.
JC McElroy
Execute Director Citizens for Government Accountability

I reached my golden years several years ago and the oil companies and stock markets are reaping the harvest. Wasn’t something done about price gouging in view of disasters? Seems like it was ignored. As soon as the hurricane was announced in the gulf even before it hits, all the gas station all over the United States started gouging. This leaves the people who are trying to flea the disaster area sitting with higher prices to pay before any disaster hits and someone lining their pockets in advance. No kind of concern for the victoms or anyone. The gas here has increased as much as 18 to 20 cents in just two days after the media announce the possibility that the hurricane might strike. We have children, grand children and great grand children to help feed,cloth and help buy gas, to they can afford to stay in school. Give the Democratic congress my best regards. Oil speculation needs to stop now and in the future.

I cannot disagree with Lori Kingsley, PA
August 28th, 2008.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Let’s not to drive and stay home on this long weekend to offset the speculative high price on the possible threat of tropical storm.

Let’s pray to God that this storm will just flood those oil speculators out of oil future market in September.

If some one doesn’t do something soon ,about energy costs, there’s going to be a collapse of the middle class ,as well as the country. Vacations are out, even essential needs are getting out of reach .THis is all greed nothing less. Heating costs have gone crazy and in 2 yrs caps come off of elec.- and it will be like natural gass prices .will we have to shut half of the house down and live on one floor? Americans deserve better .

Having reached the golden years I now can look forward to staying home because of gas cost and freezing because of home heating oil.  Even the oil delivery companies are causing greif for the consumer.  Home heating oil returning to $4.00/gallon delivery requirement are for minimum 150 gallons.  This total of $600.00 most likley could last three weeks in the middle of winter.  Combine this with the increased cost of food, medical insurance where do we go from here?

How is the price at the pump for the holiday weekend affected based on a huricane that hasn’t even hit our coast?  “Speculators” speculate that the price per gallon could go back up to $4/gallon.  I guess I’m a complete idiot, because I’m seeing $115/barrel and the price per barrel was $145 when the price per gallon was $4.00.  Since when did the speculation of a tropical storm dictate the price of a gallon of gas before it’s even caused any disruption?  If the price is based on supply and damand, why should the price fluxuate according to how much stock is being bought or when a speculator says it will go up?  This nonsense has to be stopped.  It’s getting completely out of hand.  Anything short of American’s grabbing their pitch forks and torches seems to be useless.  EVERYBODY NEEDS TO STAY HOME THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND NOT BUY ONE DROP OF GAS!  We have to do something to fix this NOW!

I tried to save up money by working everyday this summer, but it didn’t go so well. I’d take $10 to got to work and back everyday, so that took a lot of money from what I tried to save. Plus my car had a lot of bad things happen to it this month and now I only have $400 dollars saved for gas for college, that will be ten trips to college.

I tried so hard, I worked everyday this summer and didn’t get to enjoy any of it, all for what?
I will be back where I started after 10 days of school. What I need is a geo to drive, but I won’t be able to buy one for a whole year!
I don’t want to use an excuse that my family is poor, but we are. My mom works everyday to have all of it taken by bills. She doesn’t get to enjoy anything nice. I don’t know what to do.

My name is Jillian Bowman. I go to college in a bigger city. For one day to drive to college it costs $40!!!
I have had to limit my class to 3 days a week. I work 7 days a week at 2 jobs to pay for my gas and food. My grant for college only covered 5 classed tuition. I had to pay $400 in cash It is very stressful and hard, I also try to help out my family, but that is hard when your in need of help to. I make $300 dollars every 2 weeks and that will barely cover gas. I’d live at the campus but I can’t afford it and my little siblings need me as much as I need them. I come from a poorer family, but i’m trying not to let that keep me down. All of this really is very bad.

I work in the investment industry. It is clear that hedge funds and large pensions and the brokers that deal with them (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.) are the driving force behind the rise in oil from $50 to nearly $150. All this chatter from US Congress and pressure for CFTC regulation of the futures markets has scared some of the players from the trading - oil has dropped from $145 to $117. But it is still too high, and with Goldman saying it will hit $150 by year-end, you can bet they intend to make that happen. They run the largest global commodity fund out there! Also, even with pressure on to regulate the US futures exchanges and currently unregulated swaps markets, the big traders how found a new loophole. Swap/futures trading on a new exchange in Dubai! And which major firm has a large stake in the exchange? Goldman Sachs. Do you homework. Stop the madness.

IN MARCH 2008 I WAS FORCED TO QUIT MY JOB AFTER MY GRANDFATHER (AGE 85) HAD A HEART ATTACK AND NEEDED 24 HOUR CARE.THE BEST THING TO DO FOR US WAS FOR ME TO QUIT BECAUSE THE COST OF HOMECARE WOULD BE 3 TIMES WHAT I WAS BRINGING HOME IN THE MONTH.HE’S ON 24 HOUR OXYGEN WHICH IS COSTING US $400.00 PLUS A MONTH IN ELECTRIC BILLS.SO BASICALLY WHAT IM SAYING IS I HAVE LESS INCOME BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING UP GAS,FOOD,UTILITIES,INSURANCE..ETC…

PLEASE WE NEED HELP, US SECOND CLASS CITIZENS ARE IN NEED OF MAJOR HELP OR WERE GOING TO LOOSE EVERYTHING...HOMES THAT WE WORK HARD FOR. WE CANT QUALIFY FOR HELP BECAUSE WE MAKE A LITTLE OVER WHAT IS CONSIDERED LOW INCOME.

THIS IS A BIG CONCERN WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS NEEDY. CREDIT CARDS ARE BEING USED FOR EVERYDAY NEEDS BUT WHAT ABOUT PAYING THEM BACK? MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS. PLEASE HELP WE ARE DROWNING!!!!

IN NEED OF HELP
EARLLYN
KURTISTOWN,HI

Oil speculators can use any excuses to push up the price of oil.  Like the tropical storm in Carribean 150km away from Texas. Storm has not damaged any oil facilities yet. They really have their crystal balls to foreseen anything in the future.

Skyrocketing oil prices are affecting all aspects of my life. No family vacation this year as it costs too much to travel. The cost of food has risen every week. Just shopping moderately for a 2 person household is costing $80 to $90 a week. I now cut coupons and buy store brands. I am buying all my cleaning supplies and pet food at a dollar store. If we can save money on torn packages or products that are close to expiration, I buy them. I have 2 horses. The cost of feed is prohibitive. Due to the rising cost of corn, feed has gone up almost double in the last 5 months. Biofuel production has really hurt us here. Also the cost of hay has risen greatly, because of the fuel needed to cut and bale.

I have not had a raise in 3 years. Combine this with the rising cost of EVERYTHING, and I am really making less than I did 5 years ago. We in regular America need some relief. 

Thank you,
Valerie

I sent an e-mail to Lindsey Graham, A SC senator, addressing oil speculation, his response, not one word about OS. Our politicians think if they tell us we’re OK, we’ll believe it.  NASA to Mars just to see some rocks?  What about offering Americans affordable health care.  Stop the madness, make Washington accountable!!!

Because of your web site I made it to Congressman Steve Chabot’s town hall meeting in Reading Ohio. I asked a couple of direct questions regarding energy, speculation and The Warner-Leiberman Bill. He gave me good answers as well as one of his aids came up after the meeting asked for a business card reconizing that I had deep knowledge in the energy industry. The next day, Mr. Chabots office called me and scheduled a one on one meeting with the Congressman this morning Monday, Aug. 25th at 1030am.

I would like to get more information on getting involved with Stop Speculation organization.

Warm Regards,
Michael Catanzaro
Owner/President
The Utilities Group Inc
Cincinnati Ohio

I would like to share with you a story regarding the excess gas increase that has been dragging my company down.

First I will tell you that my company is a full service transportation company that relies on gas 24/7 and my business is in a spiral out of control because of the increases. Even though a break at this time we will never recover our losses and clients have moved on.

We were one of the lowest in our industry with fuel surcharge’s but that has not stop the bleeding.  We have been in business for over ten years and we are getting closer to closing our doors.

We are looking for solutions to such high cost of fuel that everyone knows there is no need to have these increases.

Please help us.

My husband has Cerebral Palsy, he DOES NOT DRIVE. We do not have public transportation. My husband’s good friend and ride, is very ill. So I am driving 2 round trips a day to New Orleans and back across Lake Pontchartrain to Slidell, LA. Costing me incredible amounts of our gas budget for his travel. His job is better than mine so we do it. Computer programmer, One of the few employed handicapped people.

The U.S has as much oil as Saudi Arabia.  We have enough to last 200 years in The North Slope of Alaska at the Gull Island Pool.  I have asked our Congressman, our Senator, Lou Dobbs, Jack Cafferty.  None have answered my question as to this Minister who lived their Lindsy Williams. He has even witnessed them pouring the fuel back into the ground so it cannot be exported to the rest of our country.
This is very serious and everyone seems to be ignoring it. Someone should investigate this.

I still can’t get an answer as to why Nick Lampson (D) D-22 voted NO on HR 6604. I just keep getting a canned letter about drilling, which I never asked about. Drilling won’t solve one thing as long as the speculators are driving the price, more oil just gives them more to trade.

Interesting piece of history for those who remember. In the 70’s when we had our last “crisis” the gas station just put up a sign “out of gas.” If we were so short on gas then, why did the price at the pump stay the same when the station re-opened the next day and the long line started over?

These guys in Washington have no clue.

I have sent this same message to quite a few senators, congressmen, President Bush and reporters.  It is ridiculous that our government offers tax incentives to speculators, all while talking about trying to reduce speculation in the energy markets.

I have read several articles surrounding placing limits on oil speculation.  One angle has not been addressed in any of the articles is why there is preferential tax treatment for trading futures contracts?

The Tax Act of 1981, treats short-term profits in futures trading as 60% long-term (therefore subject to a maximum tax of 15%), and 40% short-term. This applies to Capital gains from trading IRS Section 1256 contracts such as commodity futures, index futures, and index options as reported by your brokerage 1099-B (or 1099-C for tax years prior to 2006).

PLEASE HELP ELIMINATE THE TAX INCENTIVE FOR SPECULATING IN THE ENERGY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS!!!

This tax policy is contrary to the rhetoric spewed out by the politicians daily.

To all:

Those financial speculators are pushing the oil price with their fake analysis.

In 2 days, oil price has been pushed up by $7 because Goldman Sachs’analyst has said something about oil on 08/20/08.

Still, there is no shortage of oil supply.

WE NEED TO KEEP OUR STOP OIL SPECULATION CAMPAIGN MOVING.

PLEASE DON’T GIVE IN THOSE FINANICAL OIL SPECULATORS.

WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THEM.

WE STILL HAVE THE RIGHT & THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AMERICA.

PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP!

I totally agree with David Cropper in Snellville, Ga.August 20th, 2008.

They will not be responsive to your problems unless you can remodel their houses for free.

No shortage of oil.
Fear factors on the supply-side by Republican oil speculators.
More drillings for the profit of Big Oil.

We, Ameican people are being kidnapped by those representations of the special interests in this Congress and in this House.

Stop Oil Speculation Now! bravo!

8/19/08, I joined the John Linder “Town Hall” conference call. My question was, “why did you vote against the bill in congress to end oil speculation”?  My question was not asked, so I asked the same question again. Here is the answer from Representative John Linder, a Republican, from Georgia. “I don’t know what he is talking about.  I don’t know anything about it”. I understand that because of special interests and corporate lobbying, I have no representation in Washington, but this seems an “in your face response” to doing nothing about the greedy oil speculation problem.  I got my information about his “NO” vote from this SOS website. Take note American people, you have no representation in Washington, and neither the Democrats NOR the Republicans are the answer!  Money talks, and greed rules in Washington now. If you cannot buy your representation, you will have no representation!

Our government represenatatives have one priority - it’s their party! Then it’s self - and constituents are way down their list. My congressman cannot string together a sentence without blaming the Democrats for something (everything!)and the Demos are not much better. Most government officials have sold their futures (and ours) to big business and the lobbyists.

I don’t really think that anything I say will make a differnce. My husband works hard everyday to support me and our 5 kids(under the age of 7).  We cant afford gas for me and kids to drive to school or the store, so we walk everywhere we go.  Since food price have gone up we are going to the food bank once a month and spending what we can on food, but we still have very little food in the cupboards.  I hope for my familys sake that things get better soon.

I totally agree with Mark Shelby Twp, MI
August 19th, 2008. Some of them will even get free remodelling of their houses from their special interests, like the one in Alaska. They probably get free gas from the oil companies or drilling companies.

For us, nothing is free but we pay our Tax for nothing.

Why did Congressman Steve Buyer vote “NO” on the Oil Speculation Bill?

There is no shortage of supply of oil.

Those financial speculators are playing FEAR FACTORS on the supply-side.

They need a sensitive and unstable oil future market to make money.  On the other hand, Oil companies have made a huge profits out of American people’s pockets.

Is this FREE MARKET? Is this the Economics that the oil men refer to?

Really wish those in power would stop writing laws that make their friend’s rich - like in the case of the oil industry where certain VP’s sell out our country.  It is an excepted abuse which is sad for democracy.

I called Darlene Hooley’s Salem office to urger her to act on stopping oil speculation.  I also urged her to look carefully at off shore drilling.  We need to find a way to lower the price at the pump for people like me that is on a fixed income.

It won’t matter what energy source we are talking about.  If we are dependent on it, greedy parties will try to exploit it.

The problem was started by loopholes promoted by criminally-convicted executives of Enron and irresponsibly enacted by our congress.  I don’t care which side did it, they should right it. 

What we should all be asking is why our congress voted the way it did.  Give us reasons - not just party lines.  There may be justification for not voting yes to the bill.  Line items that included that have nothing to do with speculation.  Just give me an explanation.  Otherwise, why not reinste the laws put in place to help prevent another crash of ‘29?

We ultimately need to govern pricing on dependent commodities that can shift our economy and threaten to become more valuable than gold.  At the same time we need to start looking back inward for our resources.  We are giving far too much away to the rest of the world.

I just gave my Congressman Dana Rohrbacher a phone call. Funny it went to his voice mail. I told him I’m very disappointed in him and will not vote for him in November.

We’re going to have vote ALL of these Congresspersons out of office. They’re only concerned with themselves and they’re in fact narcissists!

Re-elect no one!

The primary function of Oil Future Market is to determine the price of oil based on the real demand of physical delivery of oil, NOT PAPER OIL DEMAND.

This kind of speculation is NOT based the actual supply of crude oil.

This kind speculation is based EXPECTATIONS and the ANALYSIS of the ANALYSTS OF SPECULATORS.  Like JP Morgan & Goldman Sachs. When their analysts release their analysis about oil price, oil price will move upward.

Most of the time, oil price was moving upward. They expect the oil price will hit $200 per barrel. It is because the demand of oil is INELASTIC.

So, we need to stop oil speculation now.
DRILLING NOW will not help instantly.

As a provider of consultant services to the transportation industry servicing Gvmt contracts I have seen the impact of fuel cost affecting the 1300 cab drivers that operate and provide Medicaid Transportation services in Teaxas rise by an avearge of $100 per week cutting deeply into their profitability. Expenses are now 65% of revenues.

If “we the people” are to ever get our lives back, we must vote OUT every Republican member of congress who repeatedly side with the big corporations and big profit mongers at our expense!

Drill now? What a joke. It’s a red herring meant to make the weak minded think it is a solution. It is not. FIRST, speculators must be curbed or they will just find an excuse to speculate on the new oil. Finding more oil will NOT make it cheaper. Furthermore, it is a drop in the bucket in the overall demand.

I am a very small business man. I import special products which are made for my company in China. It is critical that I visit the factories and renew relationships with the factory owners once each year.

I will not go this year. My business will suffer greatly. The cost to travel has skyrocketed. I can not afford the airfare. This is also a loss for our economy because the profits I generate can not be returned to our economy. Because of the costs of gasoline, I can no longer travel to trade shows and events to sell my products.

The Democrats have tried valiantly to stop the speculators but Republican members of congress repeatedly block any attempt to reign in the obscene profits of their rich buddies. It is absurd to suggest the Democrats have not done anything!

Stop the madness of energy speculation. If you don’t stop it now, the same thing will happen to new alternative energy such as wind, nuclear, hydrogen, etc.  The speculators will price those solutions out of reach also.

I phoned Rep. McGovern’s Worcester MA office to thank him for his YES vote on HR 6604, a bill that was defeated prior to August recess. I expressed a concern that the speculation in the oil futures markets in particular, was in need of some oversight by Congress and that Congress should resume positive action on following up on this bill upon their return from recess.
I believe that Congressional action must be supported by each constituent in an ongoing effort to urge the changes we seek, and not to “sit on our hands” and presume our lawmakers will anticipate our concerns. Everyone with a concern about the course of our policies should innundate Congress with letters that demonstrate our involvement; that we shall not be herded by Big Business Speculators and the Energy Industry to succumb to their policies aimed at swelling bottom-line profits for the “Board of Directors”. Are you outraged yet? MAKE THAT CALL, WRITE THAT LETTER. PROGRESS REQUIRES MOTION.

Since the Democrats have come into office with false promises to lower gas prices, they have more than doubled!!  The actions of congress keeping us from getting our own supplies have put us in a position we are in today.  Just the promise to drill off shore resulted in gas prices dropping substantially.  We need to drill here and drill NOW to get the necessary supply and quit sending dollars to peoples that hate us.  Speculation is based on supply!  High prices have hurt us all and I blame congress for dragging their feet on the supply problem.  I will remember in November who is running congress.

I have e-mailed both Ginny Brown and Senator Nelson with the following suggestion.
It is my belief that as our representatives you should do just that, represent us and not a political dogma. In order to do this you need to experience life as we do and not in a protected and cushioned enviroment as you do now. You should be paid at the average US income $38,000 per year, you should buy your own car and get the same tax relief as we do at 45 cents per mile instead of govenment vehicles and gas not to mention paid drivers! You should have the average Medical Insurance we all dont have and not the all inclusive free one you have.When you live in thw orld ewe do then you might be prompted to take action to help us!

Niether Congress, current President, or future President really care about leading our nation to continued greatness. They absolutely will provide make believe proposals and half-hearted attempts to fix this problem and accomplish NOTHING in the end...because:

1) THEY AREN’T AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM!

2) Look...we send them their paycheck every year no matter what they end up doing for us

3) The lobby donations that flow into these politicians for DOING NOTHING will always stop progress. Between the bleeding heart “tree huggers” paying them to DO NOTHING, and the current big oil interests paying them to DO NOTHING, how can they ever get anything done?

I pay $800/month in fuel costs right now to get my kids to school and back, kids soccer , kids golf, kids baseball...etc. If my kids have to quit their after school activities, IT REALLY WON"T MATTER TO OUR “REPRESENTATIVES” now will it?...They still get their same pay, same pension, same, same, same

Last Friday, I stopped by Congressman Steve Buyer’s office to talk about the energy bill.

He did not go on vacation as you have stated. He went home because his mother suffered a major heart attack. His father didn’t take it well and needed Steve there when his mother took a turn for the worse. As soon as she stablizes, he plans to return to the floor of the House with his fellow Hoosier representative Mike Pence to continue the fight.

Buyer wrote a bill for comprehensive energy reform that has bipartisan support. It includes a drill now policy along with opening the way for all other types of energy means and for the development of future alternative energy sources.

Our Congressmen and women are people too with families to care for. Family should always trump anything else.

Sincerely,
Celesta Hofmann

it is a shame these congress people forget who they work for. I did leave a message for my local congressman about my disappointment.

Everything we eat or use comes to us by truck and the high price of fuel is felt in everything we buy.  Prices are going up and as a senior facing retirement, I’m paniced.
Mine our own resources now.

Lets go back to 55 MPH speed limits,
It has worked before it can work again.

There is much more to our falling economy than just oil speculation and fuel prices. The price of everything has gone up as wages remain stagnant.Our government has allowed much of our industry to be taken overseas, leaving Americans with low paying service jobs. Then they allow foreign workers to take what jobs are left either by outsourcing to those countries or allowing work visa’s. The American people have had enough. We were and are still the greatest country in the nation when it comes to our freedoms, but that will soon be taken away as we are enslaved to working poor paying jobs and the rise of prices. Our government has allowed foreign countries and companies to buy up America from manufacturing to oil markets. Our government has “sold out” America to a globalization effort. Buy American when ever possible and know who is the owner of the businesses you purchase goods from. Keep American dollars in America.

Due to the high prices of fuel I am unable to pay any of my bills on time anymore. Something has to give, it’s funny how everyone in this country is complaining about the same thing, fuel prices and how nothing is being done about it. I am 3 months behind on all of my bills because of these high fuel prices. Fuel prices alone are breaking me. My grandparents own many oil rigs in Alaska and they keep telling me that their rigs alone have produced enough oil to last half the nation 50 years. Our oil companies are severely ripping us off. A very close friend of mine owns two gas stations, he buys his fuel at almost $2 per gallon, then marks it up more than $1.50. We are truly being pocket gouged and this is not fair. The government could have stepped in a long time ago but they didn’t because their pockets haven’t been touched yet. Well, the time has come and their pockets have been touched, and now they are realizing what we are going through.

An Important Message to all:

We should support a comprehensive energy policy that includes short-term solutions and long-term solutions.

Our short-term focus is to stop excessive oil future speculations in the dark and unrelugated oil future market by increasing the transparency and putting stricter limit on those non-delivery oil future traders by those financial speculators, like ICE, WTI, Goldman Sachs & JP Morgan or other hedge funds.
Why did CFTC issue a fake report about oil speculators before a few days the stop oil speculation bill was voted in Congress?
Why do those Republicans just ask for more DRILLINGS?
“Drilling Now” would not help stop SPECULATIVE HIGH OIL PRICE instantly.
BIG OIL would just be getting more and more profits in their pockets.
BIG OIL & REPUBLICAN OIL SPECULATORS are the major players for this high oil price conspiracy at the end of BUSH’s presidency.

I recieved a call that my Aunt Katie had just died in a tragic car accident and needed to fly to upstate NY as fast as possible. The flight to the east coast was an absolute nightmare. We live in the very northern region of California. Delta had just partnered with our local airport so people here could have more access to travel options. Because of oil specualtion the rates of plane tickets sky-rocketed and I ended up spending $1200.00 for a round trip ticket to be home for my family during an extremely hard time. My relationship with my aunt was a special one. She was a big sister, a best friend, and one of many mothers I’ve had over the years. I should not have to be punished with ridiculous prices because of where I live. It took me 28 hours to get to NY from California. UNACCEPTABLE! I am sick and tired of suffering for big corporations to make money off of us. People! Wake up and do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very upset about the oil speculators driving up prices.  They move from banks to mortgages to commodities to oil and do need regulation.  I also think that the way the airlines treat their passengers is unacceptable and I am also in favor of complete return to airline regulation at the same time.

Here Latin America the situation is as hard and difficult as in the US, oil prices od USD 5.00 per Gln, when a lot people in our countries do not make more than USD6.00 a day, Food has been as expensive as it is nowadays. We all know the power Of USA around the world so it´s time for the congress to act and make influence on the OPEP for them to flex their position of not increase the production and offer human and affordable prices to people.

Like a lot of Seniors in this country, I am suffering from the drastic increases in oil, food, prescription medications.  I am still employed and have no plan for retirement.  I have been paying taxes and social security since 1960.  I have never been in as much trouble as I am now financially. I was given a number to call by Sen Salazar’s office to see what help I could receive.  I thought this was a legitimate help line but instead it is a credit couseling line who tells you whether you can afford to stay in your home or if you should sell.  What help is that? There need to be some programs out there to help Americans rather than just lecture them on cutting back on their basic needs.  I have owned my own home since I was 24 years old. Am I to give up my home and become a renter? Throw my money down the toilet? We will spend millions protecting and endangered mouse but when it comes to us, we are cast aside like yesterdays garbage! Please DO something.

I think it’s a shame that the american working class is always the one take the hit these speculators have done nothing but hurt the middle class as much as they possiblly could getting rich and making the big corporations rich with record profit margins.  Makes me sick that the elderly and ones that get out and drive to work everyday and spend only 10-20% at home with their families if lucky just to pay the grocery bill and do without some medicine that is really needed just to go to make some speculator and Corporate CEO RICH. Shame on on them.  Here’s another thing wages havn’t went up, vehicle prices havn’t went down, and I haven’t gotten a tax break or a fuel surcharge allowance cause of the fuel prices it took me to go to work, medical bills haven’t got cheaper rx’s havent gotten cheaper and groceries haven’t gotten cheaper so I can buy the liqid gold these speculators have run up on me.  Shame on the these people of greetiness.  their time is coming .

I sent two emails to two Airline CEO’s.  One was returned.  We believe that it is going to take all forces joined in protest to hear the demands of the people from the government, which is supposed to work for the people, reduce the oil prices, stop speculation, get a plan for the future, break up the monopolies, etc! 

On August 27, 2008, “Americans Protest Around the Country” is a national protest scheduled for all State Capital locations, but not limited to, i.e., if others wish to gather at local refineries, etc.  We need the help of all Americans, and we certainly need to watch after our Elderly Americans who are scared about heating for the winter!  The flyers are on truckersforum.net.  Please print them and distribute and take out ads in your local papers to publicize the event.

If the Airlines can shut down and cancel all flights for the day (?), so be it!

Someone please get the Airline CEO’s on board.  They asked for help from the people; we need their help and support.

Tax Rationing is the best solution to solve oil speculation problem.  With tax rationing in place, all people in the world can have their gas money back indirectly!  Details of tax rationing was published at http://www.tax rationing.com

it is simple. The Congress is the problem.

The solution is simple.  We need to drill and we need to drill now.  We have several known locations where crude oil is largely available.  With our technology now-days, we can drill for oil without hurting the environment.  We could also do it within two years.  Although there are places where it is literally completely ready to drill within a week.  But congress is in our way and that is the problem.  We need to call and urge Congress to allow off-shore and in-land drilling immediatly.  In countries where the majority of their oil comes within their own land, the price of gasoline is 10 cents to 1 dollar a gallon.  That is a true possibility for this country.

I am so glad I drive a small, compact pick-up truck that gets 29mpg. My daily ride to work and back home is 54 miles. I try to eliminate as many rides as possible and stay at home a lot more.

I just received an email that demonstrates the price increase that has been occuring it show the Southwestair crash tragedy but also shows where the plane ended up comming to rest in a a marathon or Chevron sy=tation I dont remeber which but the date cn be checked in the history files Im sure but it shows the gas prices are $1.59 a gallon and that was only 8 years ago. I wish there were more pictures available to document the actual gas prices from years gone by just to prove the point of how bad this
problem truly is and how fast prices have gone up in the last 2 years alone.

I was lookin gfor information, but if you trust in magazines, drop by http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Transparency/the_economy
to see a full descrption video of the caos oil speculation might be generating.

As many Americans I had to make very hard choices weather to heat my home or pay my bills and even at times due without some of MY NEEDED RXS or even food. That was last year. I am horrified that this govmnt has let oil & gas prices get soout of control.When oil companys are reporting RECORD PROFITS and nothing is being done to put a free for all stop to this, as usual everyday people like me and 80% of Americans suffer and have to make some seriously tough choices. Corporate greed is destroying this country and are elected officials do nothing about this.  As a proud American I am asking WHY? There is no reason for this and someone needs to take charge and do something now! Isnt this what we elected them for? I dont, no I CANT understand how this can continue. HELP US.HELP US. HELP US. ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE SENATE, WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVES DO SOMETHING NOW.  NOW IS WHEN IT IS NEEDED.

It seems to me that the only way to get this going and it may crush the airline market is to go on strike. Stop every single plane in the United States from going into the air till congress listens. Every employee from the sky to the gates. I bet once that happens and a few rich folks get their vacations ruined, a law will be passed sooner than we expect

I work for the airlines. We are constantly hounded by management about saving gas anyway we can to the point where we are held accountable. The public is suffering. Layoffs are happening, with job cuts, pay reductions, less work. It costs me 100 to fill my car and drive to work and back creates a 200 dollar in 2 weeks to go to and from work. Public transportation isnt everywhere and not always convient.

Well, I firmly believe that rising oil prices are at the center of our current economic standing.  And while all of America is living the harsh reality, small businesses are feeling the weight.  I am a computer technician at a local small business, and when consumers have to focus on necessities even greater, computers and other electronics become distant luxuries.  God bless them, I understand, and we’ve prayed for a miracle.  But I believe it is going to take the wisdom of our elected officials to do what we “hired” them to do.

As I wrote in my letter to the politicians - we are a military family.  We get substandard housing as we cannot afford to live off base due to this crisis.  Energy bills alone, just to rent a home (as if we could) would continually eat at us.  Additionally, what little pay we DO get for sacrificing our sons and daughters, husband and wives lives is now going to fund the oil tycoon’s latest vacations and extravagancies.

We have taped into our children’s education funds and our retirement funds.  Even “base driving” is becoming costly.

This crisis is screwing each generation as we grow older.  My husband and I will end up working our entire lives paying for energy, while our children will be left uneducated, reducing their standard of living.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Please don’t believe Republicans’s Crocodile’s tears.
They are just acting.
They are the one blocking the Oil Speculation Bill and they are the one speculating Oil Futures.

More drillings won’t help the speculative oil price.

I can’t stand these high gas prices. Speculators are buying oil at today’s prices and will ONLY MAKE MONEY IF SOMEONE WILL BUY IT AT A HIGHER PRICE!  Let’s stick it to the speculators and support more drilling here and now.  When the market shows signs of millions of barrels of oil flooding the market in the years to come, prices will fall and the speculators WILL LOSE MONEY.  Let’s put the speculators out of business.  Call your congressman and support more drilling here and now!

The House of Representatives just voted down the The Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act, the anti-speculation bill, by a vote of 276 to 151. For those who are interested, the names of the NAYS are at the following website: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll540.xml. If you see the name of your Representative here, you may want to contact him (her) to voice your opinion!

I cannot disagree with Isiah Jamerson
Bellwood July 28th, 2008.  The entire oil speculation is planned by Republicans.
Their purpose is to get more before Democratics will be taking over the White Hosue in 2009.
If you have watched all the debates on oil speculation in Congress latley. The key word from Republican side is “DRILLING MORE”.  They are sending out all thses smokes to cover their actions in the dark oil future market. They are still there. I speculate that Republican oil speculators will drive oil price up again during the summer recess.

If you live in a city who does support light rail, commuter rail or alternative work arrangements these gas prices can be cruel.

I am lucky to earn a decent living, however I feel bad for all the living at the poverty line or below families. I am feeling the pinch but, I am sure it is nothing like what they are having to make choice on:

Eat? or pay electric bill....

Time to vote everyone---

I’m a United employee @ O’Hare Airport. Gas is affecting my job. I might get laid off. If i get laid off no money. No money = no food. No food= death.................................................Think about it.

So far the gas prices have not had much of an impact on me...yet. I guess I’m lucky because they have had an impact on a lot of people around me, mostly co-workers loosing there jobs and the rest of looking around to see who’s next. I work for an airline so if the prices don’t go down I will likely be out of a job. (Which is a problem, because I love my job, and I’d like to keep it). My company will no longer be flying to destinations I used to fly to to see my family. With more and more airlines going out of business and cutting back on destinations they used to fly to it hurts other businesses and families.

We live just off ‘The Loneliest Highway’, middle of nowhere Nevada.  Nearest dump, groceries ( clothing or almost anything else is a 70 mile drive away.  If we need more than just the minimum, we have to drive 120 miles each way.  We already keep long lists, call friends to see if they need anything, and try not to go more than once a month.  Now, with gas prices so high, I can’t imagine how seldom we will have to travel if the gas prices don’t return to a reasonable level.  My husband has a daughter and grandchildren he has not seen in two years, but we can’t afford the airfare to go visit.  We had planned to go this summer, but everytime we searched the prices just doubled!
I worry that all this is just another way of scaring us into destroying what little pristine places we have left.  I keep hearing the technology is available for alternative renewable energy sources.  Why are we sacrificing our children to keep the gas flowing, instead of working to stop our dependancy?

Good day,
I am a widow, on Social Security, no family to help me, so my income is extremely tight, low and definitely fixed.  With the gas prices so high - it also affects food prices, I am having to make choices between medications, food or gas.  My food budget used to be higher than my gas allowance, but not any longer.  So it has caused me to have to make food choices that are not necessarily healthy for me just to make what food monies I have make it through the month.

Please help people like myself who live on so little to survive.  There must be some way Congress can help people like me to be able to exist. Please help us Seniors!

Thank you for reading this,
Jeri Barnhart

My life is strongly affected by the
rising cost of oil. It costs more to
drive to work and my company who is
very dependent on oil is contemplating
laying off employees due to the increase
in the cost of oil. So not only does it
cost more for me to drive to work every
day but I live in a very unsure environment not knowing if i will have
a job or not from day to day.

As politicians talk about increasing oil production, gasoline prices have dropped 50 cents.  How much more would the price fall if they actually did something?  It is time to clean house.

MY wife and I both are on social security disability. something has to be done NOW to bring the oil prices back down. opec comes up with all these reasons to cut production and raise prices. enough is enough!! correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you can grow to much in the way of food in the massive amount of sand they have along with their oil. seems to me we should raise the cost of food items we sell them, after all it’s costing us more in fuel costs to run our farms. if we all pull together we can still grow our crops. we just have to learn to use our cars, trucks, buses etc..... I wonder what the koran would have to say about living on sand and oil!please feel free to email me and let me know what your thoughts and feelings are about my idea.

My fiancé, daughter and I used to visit my family every year in Hawaii.  Since both my father and brother in-law serve in the US Army these visits would be especially important because one or the other would be just getting back from a deployment or leaving on a deployment. Now with these fuel costs driving up the cost of flight tickets a ticket that cost me $299 round trip now costs $685!  We were planning to go back to welcome back my father from his 2nd tour in Iraq but now it is going be to out of our budget.  Something must be done!

Commuting from Modesto, CA (Central Valley) to SFO Airport (Bay Area) a few years ago was a challenge, TODAY It is both a huge challenge & burden on me & my husband. My husband is also a commuter to Santa Clara every week and we don’t commute together because of our schedules are different.  These outrageous fuel/oil prices are absolutely killing middle-class Americans, those that work so very hard for everything they have & their families.  For what reason?  Nobody can seem to explain to the point it makes any real sense.  Why can’t airlines, truckers, business owners & hard working citizens do something about it--WE NEED TO SOMETHING AND SOMETHING FAST.  We all need to put an end to the greedy government politians & speculators that are dragging us all down to the ground.

We the common working stiffs of the u.s. will oust you from your cushy lifestyle by voting in masses , and ending your stranglehold on our families...... the party’s OVER...............................

If we simply stand back and watch this debacle, our Children will pay for this dearly.
Let us all unite as true Americans and end the rule of the speculators who sinply use fear and indimidation of cooked up stories for personal profits. 
Speculators are indeed a disgrace to our culture and a severe threat to the solidarity of this great country.

I just want to know where to go scream. Is there any kind of movement or march or protest I don’t know about? I’m tired of seeing everybody losing everything when it is absolutly unnecessary. Please contact me anyone because I am free to rant and rave.

I’m alternately inspired and amused by this plea. Ultimately, of course I’m behind it. But how much of the reason is as a result of big business backing the current administration? Now part of big business sees the error of its ways?

At any rate, I’ll take what I can get. There’s a big fight ahead - while I was taking my daughter and her friend out to lunch today, we saw a bumper sticker that said, “Drill Here, Drill, Now, Pay Less”. Location? Jeep SUV.

My child deserves better. I’ll do what I can. But the irony of where this appeal comes from is not lost. Republicans have done us horribly wrong.

A dear friend of mine has 4 children that are all as of this summer, attending college full time. 2 in Colorado and 2 in Idaho.  Both parents work 2 jobs to make ends meat and pay for the needs of their children in college. 
As soon as the gas prices began to rise, along with everything else, the parents realized that they could not afford send them all away to college and had to make some serious decisions.  It was decided that the 3 older children will remain in Hawaii and continue their college studies here and only the youngest sibling will go to the mainland for her first year of college on the campus the she worked very hard to be on.
I was so shocked and so saddened to hear the sacrifices this family is making.  We really need to do something and must act now because this situation has for this family has impacted their lives and compromised their educationsl opportunities and even possibly, thier futures.

I have an elderly aunt that lives alone because my uncle died over the winter.  She lives about 85 miles away from my home.  This doesn’t seem far but it’s still 170 miles round trip SW of my home.

Another elderly cousin is home bound in a wheel chair from a serious car accident.  She lives 110 miles round trip due South from my home so each visit must be a separate trip.

I feel guilty because I rarely visit now that gasoline prices have become so ridiculous.

I also love to fish and have been unable to go.  My fishing boat has been unused parked next to the garage for the last two years.  We also havn’t driven to any of the state parks or taken any trips within our state like we used to.

I’m sure the ripple effect is felt by the McDonalds on the highway you never stopped at. The motel or camp grounds you did’nt use.  The souveigners that were never bought at the gift shop.  The boat marina you did’nt buy bait, gas or food from, etc.

I am watching this from the trenches I can’t afford to put gas in my truck. Groceries have doubled but I can’t afford to drive to get them anyway. I am losing my home. This country is falling apart at the seams and you my elected government are going on vacation. People are committing suicide around here now. WAKE UP PLEASE

I am 80 years old and make it a point to visit my children all over the country. I have 5 children-10 gandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and they live in N.C.and Atlanta and
Montana. and this gas crisis and fares are making it impossible on my social security income.  Thank you for your time---SAF

We will be renting for the rest of our lives.  We are in the process of selling one car and only operating with 1 car for 2 ft people.

Just yesterday, here in Aspen, CO I paid $5.23/gallon for mid-grade fuel! I could only afford to fill 1/2 the tank on my Subaru! I could drive 30 miles for better prices, but then that pretty much eats up the gas I’m trying to save! This is getting out of hand!

It seems odd to me that legislative efforts have given authority to the Public Utilities Commission to regulate electricity, natural gas, and even cable TV.  But something as critically intertwined with virtually EVERY FACET of our (currently struggling) economy as gasoline and diesel doesn’t get the same attention.  If the price of bread or eggs goes up, they don’t affect the price of hot water heaters.  However, as fuel prices climb, EVERYTHING goes up.  ALL providers of wholesale and retail commodities and services have to shoulder the increased costs, which are passed along to the consumer.  Why should the PUC NOT regulate gasoline and diesel prices at the pump.  Why (other than lust for profit) should gasoline and diesel be allowed to float with a free economy like groceries, clothes, hardware, general consumer goods?

My husband and I worked all our lives, retired.  We have read the stories and see ourselves agreeing with everyone’s plight to survive in this greed driven economy. We heard my husband’s mom had a HUD increase in rent of 50$ this month we have to increase what we send to her monthly from our own limiting income. I will terminate cell phone and continue to pick veggies at my son’s garden. Our apartment rent, energycosts, medical, drugs all way up this and last year. Marilyn in Virginia

1. There is price gouging going on the city. How can there be 5 to 6 cent difference in pricing.
2. It is hitting people trying to get to work. Cost of Gas. Cost of Food
3. Do you bunch high rollers realize what it is doing to the heart of Ammrica. Ranchers and Farmers. It is driving people out of business. What are we going to eat. We are already dependant on foriegn oil. Are we going to be dependant on foriegn food supplies also.
4. Wake and smell the roses before there are none too smell.
5. Oil company’s record profits should be put in to research of new energy sources and building new up to date oil refineries away from hurricane areas and back up facilities.

IT IS HARD SINCE WE ARE 1 OF THE U.S. TERRITORIES. A SMALL ISLAND LIKE MINE IS A GREAT IMPACT. OUR STREETS USE TO BE BUSY NOW IT LOOK LIKE A GHOST TOWN. WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS FUEL COMPANY THAT THEY ARE DEPLETING UP THE CRUDE OIL BEFORE THEY CAN START MONOPOLIZING OTHER FUEL ALTERNATIVES SO THEY CAN STILL CONTROL PEOPLE LIVES AND INCLUDING THE WORLD GOVERMENTS. WE SHOULD GET THOSE SCIENTIST ON OUR SIDE TO GIVE CHEAP OR FREE FUEL SUPPLY OR COME UP OF A TYPE OF OLD SCHOOL WAY OF CREATING/INVENTING NATURAL FUEL ON OUR LOCAL SORROUNDINGS. ANOTHER IS LIMITIZE THE USE OF MACHINE LIKE THE OLDEN DAYS.

You guys must be working for the oil companies if you’re in support of domestic drilling. This will not reduce oil prices one cent, and will only make the oil companies richer. Why not focus on ending speculation?

My weekly comute is 380 miles round trip. With tolls and over $4.00 a gallon gas it costs me nearly $500.00 monthly just to get to work. With gasoline inventories at a 20 year high there is no justification for current price levels. Speculators shouldn’t be allowed to rake in billions on the backs of hard working Americans.

I AM A MOTHER OF 3 TEEN DRIVER & MY HUSBAND IS A OVER THE ROAD TRUCK DRIVER & WE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE OUR HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE FUELS COST. WE JUST CAN NOT MAKE IT ANYMORE. EVERYONE IS WORKING AND WE TRYED TO CARPOLE & IT STILL DON’T HELP. THE COST TO FEED 5 PEOPLE HAS GONE UP LIGHTS COST ALOT MORE PLUS NOW THEY ADD ON A MILE TAX & SOME THING ELSE SO IT HITS YOU AROUND EVERY CONER NOW.. IT SOMETHING DON’T GIVE I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE CAN HOLD ON. MY BROTHER & HIS FAMILY ARE FIXING TO MOVE IN WITH US CAUSE THEY CAN’T MAKE IT ON THERE ON NOW SO THAT IS GOING TO ADD 6 MORE PEOPLE IN MY HOUSE.. I PRAY TO GOD FOR HELP BUT I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT HIM, BUT HE HELPS ME MOVE ON & NO MATTER WHAT STILL TRY TO HELP OTHERS. BUT HOW MUCH MORE CAN THIS WORLD DO TO ALL OF US.. RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE NOT RICH THE YOU DO WITH OUT WHAT YOU NEED....

It’s is becoming a problem and things are starting to get cut off.  My little luxuries are starting to fall to the way side.  Food is high, gas is high, everything is going up, up, up and no one is looking out for us.  I’m a single parent and it is becoming increasingly harder to afford anything on a daily basis.  Public transportation has me getting up at 4 am to catch a 5 am train.  Leaving work at 4:30 to catch a 4:48 train to get at the station by 6 pm to get home by 6:30 pm.  I have a little one that now I have to pay for someone to pick her up and keep for the extra time.  When do you care about us.  Things like food that are necessities we are having a hard time buying.

I am caught from every side.  I work for an airline which is paying outrageous prices for fuel, then I get gouged at the pump just trying to get to work, church, food shopping.  There has never been much room for extras but now I spend more every month than I make.  I can’t keep robbing Peter to pay Paul much longer.  HELP!!

After reading all these heart jerking real life stories the problem is very clear.

Can anyone think of better way to bring America down to the third world level than to allow the cost of food, shelter, health care and transportation to rise so high that the majority of Americans can not afford to pay for the basic necessities to life?
Our leaders are no longer working for Americans they just do what their party tells them. The only way to solve these problems is to vote in representatives and a President that will go to work for the American people. We need representatives that will quit working for the greedy lobbists. Anyone know of any candidates that will actually do that?

I have a family of 4 where both my husband and I must work to pay our bills. The rising cost of fuel to drive our vehicles to work and heat our home is largely affecting our budget to care for our children. My husband has to drive 1 hr each way to work to his job because there are no local positions open in his field. With the cost of fuel rising, our budget for food has dramatically gone down. Our son has had some medical procedures done and between the rising cost of healthcare, gas, and food, we are barely getting by. Something must be done to help the average American people to survive.

my husband and I work for an airline that is cutting jobs because of fuel costs.  We live 120 miles from the airport and are having to sell our home in this poor housing market to live closer because our monthly gas costs have doubled.

Speculators should be severely prosecuted for what they are doing to every hardworking American who is finding it increasingly difficult to just be able to afford the basics like transportation, food, shelter etc.. It is really sad to see what we have become because of pure GREED.
It has also become increasingly obvious who the government protects--and its not the average hardworking American.

Why has this taken so long to fix? The first six months of this year have been monstrous as we have watched family, friends, our community lose homes,savings, jobs, the stress is overwhelming—when will this end?
When? Please pass and sign this bill and stop the horror.

It’s just the ole snowball affect! Hi fuel prices generate high transportation prices which generate high consumer product prices which generate the consumer to spend less on those products which generates job cuts which generate welfare/unemployement which generates a piss poor economy.

Just wondering why there isn’t more of a public outrage about presidential candidate, John McCain’s chief economic adviser Phil Gramm policy to oppose any proposed regulation of the energy futures trading.  This is the market that was famously abused when Enron Corp. manipulated California’s electricity prices in 2001.  Phil Gramm, who was then a powerful Texas senator and friend of Kenneth Lay, slipped an Enron-backed provision into the Commodities Futures Modernization Act that exempted from regulation energy trading on electronic platforms.  This is the same Phil Gramm who is now a VP of the USB Swiss Bank which was just in the news regarding the uncovering of hundreds of millionaires who are using the bank as a tax shelter to avoid paying any taxes.

Everyone one wanting to blame big oil. Find out how much tax is levied on oil. Then add the huge evnviro fines slapped on them. Stop all the tree hugging & drill on. You need food, clothing, shelter, period. Fight the taxes not the companies. Companies will always pass the cost onto the consumer. I drive for a living. You should pay the truck fuel. What some pay in a month we buy in one day. My work is slowed down to nothing almost. Most do not know how much the 2nd car is costing you besides gas--insurance, reapirs, payments, etc. First get to basics. Stop trying to live above your wage. If you can’t afford to pay cash then you can’t afford it!

I’m having a hard time understanding why this is taking so long to get passed in Congress.  This basicly is killing our economy, whether it is the airline industry, auto makers or just a small business owner.  If people care about America they need to get this passed in Congress yesterday.  Forget the politics of it JUST DO IT. THis speculation is nothing more than pure thievery to line the pockets of some already rich jerks.

I live in Miami, and work with the airlines, and it is impossible for me to use public transportation as it is unreliable, and it does not run all day and night.  I try to drive the least amount of time as possible, picking up my groceries after work as well as my other errands, and reduce the about of times I spend with my friends and family from 3 times a week to just one.  Its not right I have to choose who I see from my family because of gas prices, plus even with the changes, I still have a bill of over $450.00 every month just on gas, lets not even talk about food increase, and the rest of retail, now in Florida, our electric company is also going to raise our bill by 29%.  I have to work over time and I’m also looking for a second job and all because of oil prices.
Alessandro
Miami Fl
July 23, 2008

High fuel costs are strangling our business.  Independent contractors who supply us with raw materials have parked their trucks unable to pass along higher fuel costs.

We have gone from being global and nation wide competitors back being regional competitors because of the high cost of fuel is making our products less competitive.

Now, regional airlines are talking about shutting down service to Rhinelander, Eau Claire, Appleton etc.  We need access for our customers and suppliers.

The high fuel costs are exasperating the mortgage meltdown.  With less money in their pockets homeowners are having trouble meeting their mortgage obligations.

It is imperative that we enact rules to stop speculators from being pariahs on the American Consumer and encourage them to invest in America and American companies in the stock market instead of the commodity market.  The limits must be raised on speculators from a fractional exposure to full exposure.

I am forced to leave the car at home, I live in Brooklyn, work in Hoboken, NJ, it’s a 20 minute drive in the morning, 45 minutes home.  I am now forced to commute by foot...20 minute walk to train, 1 hour subway ride to NYC then a 20 minute ride on the PATH train.  All in the sake of rising tolls costing me $320 a month, and gas to fill tank on a new car (I traded in my SUV) for a smaller compact car, at $350 a month in gas, my commute costs me more them my electric bill and gas bill for heating combined.

Most of these costs are cause by the devalued dollar, oil speculators (people that were involved in the Enron scandal), & energy companies encouraging high pump prices by withholding reserves from the market. If each American was to do a little research; they’d find out we have oil & gas lease holding laws. I did the research and found out one company http://wid.ap.org/oilgas/lease_acres.html leases close to over or over 3 mil. acres when US law http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cnn42425.htm says they can’t own more than 265,000 acres. I also decided to (follow the money). Oil companies pay off elected officials to turn their heads the other way. http://www.ewg.org/oil_and_gas/part11.php Make sure your elected officials enforce the current lease holding laws. Both parties have good ideas; why can’t we do everything? drilling, refineries, wind farms, solar farms, individual solar investment (larger tax incentives), tidal turbines, nuclear plants, higher fuel standards, etc.

I drive 88 miles each day to work. the price of gas and propane to heat my home is breaking me.

I spend about 1 hour and 10 minutes on the road every day. My wife spends 1 1/2 hours a day on the road as she works a split shift for a local retailer. She works split shift to save money on day care costs. Over $600.00 per month on fuel,$550.00 power bill. We make sure to keep the air conditioner as high as we can (we’re sweating folks). Then we get hit with another 8 to $900.00 bill for food (per month). This gouging has to stop. This is trickling through our economy and it sure looks like it’s going to cause a recession. I am asking the do nothing congress to get off their butt and do something. Both parties have good ideas; why can’t we do everything? Drill for more oil, build more refineries, build wind farms, build solar farms, solar investment for individual homes (larger tax incentives), invest in tidal turbines, build nuclear plants, push for higher fuel standards, etc. CONGRESS; get to work or you just might find that we’ve found someone else to do your job.

To account for the tremendouse rise in fuel costs - and the trickle down effect towards everything else - my family has taken in boarders.

I drive to work because we no public transportation that is efficient. And fuel has become a large part of my budget.I have reduced my driving by consolidating trips and when we can my sister and run errands together. I seee increases at the pump and in the grocery store. Plus I have seen several family owned and chain restaurants close their doors in my neighborhood. I do not see how our economy can continue to take this type of beating. I guess soon the choice will be food or buy gas so I can get to work.
We need help

All I have to say is that the American Dream is turning into a nightmare.

I drive 50 miles every day to get to work. I have one more year before I can retun my SUV in ordert to be down size my car. 

It is very hard on the poket, who would know we would be in this situation.  Not only gas but food has gone up and our salaries stay the same.

Not good

$7,000.00 for heating oil for next winter. $10,000.00 to have my 200 year old house insulated. I am set to be out of a job at American Eagle Airlines in November. All because of the price of oil. I need help as alot of people in Maine are going to this winter. How well will congress sleep this winter in Washington as people in Maine freeze to death in their home?

When the weather turned cold this past winter, I set our thermostat at 72 degrees. We were warm and comfortable, but it wasn’t too warm. I thought this was a reasonable and comfortable tempature - until I got my electric bill. Our two month heating costs for the months of Dec. and Jan. were over 1,300.00 to heat a 2100 sf house! And this is in Texas, were it doesn’t get that cold compared to the rest of the country! At first I thought there was a mistake, but the representative on the phone assured me there was none. I went on a five month payment plan to pay it off, and my family did without any small luxury - I even had to borrow money from my childrens’ savings account to pay bills. Needless to say, our thermostat was set at 63 degrees for the rest of the winter (that was as cold as we could bear it.) And now, in the summer we set our themostat on 82 degrees, and turn it off at night. It is the only way we can survive right now.

Our company pays every 2 weeks. We are running so short of money we barely can get to work by the end of the second week. We now have no money left for that little unplanned event. If anyone gets sick the copay for the Dr. is now a stretch. Food has jumped and the reason is gas, We live 33 miles from work, our budget has now had to come up with money we just dont have. If you increase taxes on gas because we did what you asked which was to reduce consumption then what message does that send. Reduce and we will charge more? Dont reduce and you will go into the poor house? Get with the program. Why are we not working more toward alternative energy. My elect bill up, Why you ask? fuel. I am angry at our gov for letting It get this bad. We will think twice when we vote next time.

My income is not keeping up with the cost of fueling my car to get to work, or fueling my home for heat and hot water. My oil company will not deliver, even in the middle of winter, until the previous month’s bill is paid in FULL.

I drive to work every day.  We have no public transportation that will bring me from Nicholasville to Lexington.  My husband must use his vehicle for work.  We have reduced our driving as much as we can but it is now costing us over $650 per month for gasoline.  Where does it end?  The end consumer absorbs all the increases.  Not only do we pay higher prices for fuel for our cars, we are paying higher utility costs, food costs..everything that we consume.  We need help.

As a mother of five children ages 2,4,6,8 and 10 with a commute of 80 miles, it is becoming more frequent when my husband (who’s commute is even further!) when our schedules overlap or coincide and we have to pay a babysitter that I make little to no money at all. I am working to pay for gas and the babysitter!!!
We also have oil heat on a fairly large home that is costing another fortune to heat!!!!
The children are little now, but I fear if the cost of food continues to rise with three of my five growing boys, it will be even harder!!!!

This is Enron all over again, why are the big oil companies making billions of dollars in profits and the expense of hard working Americans.  It cost’s me $100.00 per week to fill up my car, that’s a big gouge into my net earnings.  Between health care and fuel costs rising beyond the scope of the average American, we need to implore our government representatives to do the right thing.  There are other energy choices out there, we need to get off oil, and our government needs to make these choices available instead of calling Americans addicted to oil.  We need a choice!  We are not addicted, we need new technology that is available and we need it now!

Americans are not addicted to oil; they are not given any other choices. Big oil money blocks any new technology
available to consumers.  There are alternative fuel sources; the hydrogen fuel cell is one. Not only is it better for the environment, (due to the by product of the fuel cell is water vapor). But it can be totally green when produced in conjunction with solar power. The University of California at Irvine has one such hydrogen fuel station run with solar panels. It fuels hydrogen fuel cell cars, Honda has the FCX Clarity, and GM has one called the Equinox.  Plug Power Inc, created a home energy station that can fuel your car and have energy left over for your home to run electrical appliances.  Governor Schwarzenegger has a plan called the Hydrogen Highway, proposed to set up hydrogen fuel stations along side or at existing gas stations to fuel hydrogen cars. We need to have these options available now in America.

my husband is a retired St Policeman, and he just started a new business. He owns a used car lot. He used to be sure every car had a full tank of gas, but the fuel cost he had to cut back to a half of tank to keep from cutting into his profit. And of course my being a flight attendant, the cost of fuel can change if we are furloughed or not at any time.

I work in the DFW metro area but my residence is in rural East Texas. The expense of commuting 93 miles one way was tolerable when gas was below $2.00 per gallon. Since last fall, due to the skyrocketing price of gasoline, I spend four nights per week at a relative’s home to avoid the expense of commuting 186 miles round trip, 5 times per week. My commute on the days spent in town is less than 20 miles per day round trip. The effect this arrangement has on me and my family is I do not have the comfort of my home, the companionship of my 10 yr old Son, and my Spouse during the work week. I have to admit this arrangement is a strain on my family life. Conversely, I could not afford to put my three other sons through college and pay for other necessities, like groceries, electricity and insurance if I continued to make the drive to and from my rural home to my place of employment every day. What other sacrifices are left to make if gas prices continue to increase?

I commute 10 miles a day in a sorry (but relatively new) Suburban.  I work 5 day’s a week and rarely do any more than an additional 20-30 additional miles of driving on my week ends.  Like clock work every 7 days I am refilling my Suburban with $100 in gas and no where near a full tank.

With four teens I can’t exactly fit everyone confortably in two vehicles to drive by myself.

The Suburban is 5 years old and is now worth just over $7000.  Amazing 70% depreciation in five years.  Now I can’t sell the vehicle because no one will buy it.  When I purchased the Suburban gas was $1.35.

Only fools and thieves can feel good about the price of gas. 

I don’t feel sorry for myself, my husband and I make good salaries.  What about the poor kids just starting out in life.  Making 7-10 dollars an hour?

We are cutting back on everything.  We drive with our windows down even in 105 degree weather.  The kids don’t like it, but it really saves gas.  We keep our Home at 87 degrees.  They don’t like that either.  We turn all lights off during the day and in every room we are not in at night.  Now, when we run errands, we plan our route before we go so that we make sure that we are stopping along the way instead of having to backtrack.  I make one trip to the grocery store a week instead of three or four.  We use the cruise control on the highway all the time now. We hardly eat out anymore and I use coupons when we do.  We use the more fuel efficient car for all errands and leave the other one at home most of the time.

god help me, I can’t afford to drive my suv any more.

My son is Autistic and we utilize a special diet for him to remain symptom free.  The closest specialty grocery store is over 30 miles away to get his food items.  His diet is very expensive and of course not covered by insurance (along with occupational and speech therapy).  With the fuel cost increases we’ve had to change our thermostat alot and cut out all luxury purchases and vacations. 

Many other families who are in my situation are not as fortunate.  Autistic therapies reach into our personal funds in the tens of thousands each year.  And please understand that there are many other “special” issues which effect thousands of people across the nation, Autism is just the one that effects me.  We’re still doing ok due to two incomes but what about the folks who are now having to choose between prescriptions, food and the ability to get to work?

Gas is basic utility.
If you allow speculation in that it will affect the whole economy and result into economic slowdown which will not be controllable.
I think it’s the best interest of democracy and capitalism that government restrict the speculation in the oil market and allow only parties who are the true users (producers or major consumers) of this commodity.