Here is what my U.S. senator responded with when I sent her an e-mail about high gas prices. What do you think of her response?
"Thank you for contacting me regarding high gasoline prices. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your views on this important issue, and I share your concerns.
Gasoline prices reached an all-time high this year, and costs for food and other basic necessities are rising drastically. As millions of Americans struggle under this increasing burden, oil companies continue to report massive, record-breaking profits - $123 billion last year alone. This is unacceptable, and I want to assure you that I am working hard to lower prices and protect Americans from price gouging.
I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of S.3044, the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008. This important bill would impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies to discourage price gouging and to help consumers offset the high costs of energy products, punish any country or company colluding in setting the price of oil, and limit excessive speculation in oil markets.
S.3044 also includes a provision that is similar to legislation I authored that would require the Federal Trade Commission to investigate possible manipulation of gasoline prices any time prices rise rapidly.
Unfortunately, on June 10, 2008, the Senate minority blocked further consideration of S.3044. At a time when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet and having to make the impossible choice between buying food for their families and filling up the gas tank, I am deeply disturbed that some of my colleagues prevented this important bill from moving forward.
Opening up drilling in the United States is not the best way to achieve lower gas prices. For example, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would provide us with six months of oil at most, and at great cost. Furthermore, it would be more than a decade before we saw any of that oil. Ultimately, we need to move away from our dependence on oil and gasoline by developing renewable and efficient energy technologies. Right now, we need to go after the big oil companies that are holding Americans hostage with their exorbitantly high prices.
Americans deserve better than oil companies that gouge consumers in order to make huge profits, and Congress needs to take action to help alleviate this crisis. Rest assured, I will continue working for the passage of S.3044, and I will keep fighting to help Americans enjoy fair and reasonable energy prices.
Again, thank you for writing to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or other issues that concern you.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator"
Does anyone have any data that agrees with or contradicts what she wrote?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
I don't have any data, but think of how long it would be before renewable and other sources of clean energy are available too. If we decide to do this, how long before such things are not only available, but affordable to the average person. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on paying $20,000 + on a hybrid car.
But at least she is pushing for improvements.
I have heard the six month theory, as well as 20 years of oil in the Alaskan reserves. It just depends on who you ask. I think we do need to move away from our dependence on oil. Dtown, you say you don't plan on paying 20,000+ on a hybrid car, well if we run out of oil, that may not be an option either. The only good thing coming out of this oil crisis is the fact that these alternative fuel and energy cars are being produced and and upgraded every year like never before. Soon enough, they will cost roughly the same as our gasoline cars do. Right now the 2008 Prius is actually cheaper than a 2008 Honda Odyssey with twice the gas mileage.
Let me just say that I have not seen your blog before but I do have a thing or two to say concerning oil companies and our government. If you listen to Glen Beck you will agree with me. Oil companies are only making 10 cents on the dollar as it is and even though the news says they are posting record profits, their actual profits are falling because people are buying less gas. That is why theire stocks are falling. We have plenty of resources to find our own oil in our own country and be energy independant now but it takes a governemnt willing to act in the people's best interest and not riding some power trip like Nancy Pelosi, who won't even allow a vote or a debate in the senate. Why are people mad at oil companies and not mad at our government? They are the ones making things difficult for us. They need to hear more outrage from the public. I have written all my representatives countless times and never receive as thorough a responce but I think your senetor is trying to defend herself before elections and she is dead wrong on her position. Anyway, just though I would leave my two cents for what its worth.
Thanks for all the comments!
Post a Comment