Posted by
Roxanna M. on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 3:07:08 PM
I am forever disabused of the notion that my elected officials are in any manner whatsoever interested in anything their constituents might have to say on any subject at any time. The only time an elected official is interested in us "little people" is when they want to get re-elected. We mean absolutely nothing to them at any other time.
I have been bombarding my senators - Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer - with e-mails regarding the high price of gas and their culpability therefor. What I got back from them would be laughable if the situation weren't so serious.
In response to my comment that halting deposits to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would do no good, Boxer said: "On May 13, 2008, by a vote of 97 to 1, the Senate approved legislation to temporarily halt oil deposits to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which would put more oil on the market and help ease rising gas prices as we enter this busy driving season." Well, since this brilliant vote was taken, the price of gas in my area has gone up $.50.
In response to my comment that a windfall profits tax would do no good, Boxer said: "In addition, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of S.2991, 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".
Where to begin. Anyone with a brain in their head and the ability to use it will tell you that any tax imposed on the oil companies will, in turn, be passed on to us consumers. I can't wait to see how much the price of gas will go down when this tax is implemented. How are we going to "punish any country" that colludes in setting the price of oil? Threaten not to buy their oil? Boy, that'll show them! "Limit excessive speculation in oil markets." How? No, no, don't do that, or you'll get a time out.
In response to my comment that global warming/climate change is a hoax, Boxer reported the America's Climate Security Act out of committee and to the full Senate, while Feinstein waxed rhapsodic about everthing she was doing to combat climate change.
For instance. She has "supported efforts to increase the use of low carbon renewable fuels, increase the amount of electricity we produce from renewable sources, and raise the average fuel economy standard for automobiles." She introduced the "Electric Utility Cap-and-Trade Act of 2007 (S.317), which reduces emissions from the electricity sector by establishing a cap-and-trade program that would promote cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions. I am encouraged that, on December 5, 2007, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee approved the 'Climate Security Act of 2007' (S.2191), which establishes a similar cap-and-trade program for the electricity, manufacturing, transportation, and natural gas sectors. By 2050, this bill would reduce emissions by 65 percent below 2005 levels."
Feinstein actually had the nerve to say, "Please know that I appreciate hearing your thoughts about this important issue, and I will keep your comments in mind as the Senate considers comprehensive climate change legislation in the 110th Congress." Does it sound like she's going to keep my comments in mind? And then, just to make things so much worse, she attached a copy of a speech she delivered in Santa Monica entitled: "Global Warming: The Agenda Ahead", wherein she spewed all the usual tripe about rising ocean levels, melting polar ice caps, aberrant weather patterns. Yada, yada, yada.
Both of these women are going to do exactly as they please, regardless of how their constituents feel about it. Neither has a single plan to bring down the price of gas. Neither has any intention of admitting her fault in why it's so high in the first place. Obviously, both of these women have a low opinion of my intelligence and didn't think that I would grasp the fact that I was being dismissed out of hand.
Well, the feeling's mutual.