Here & There Column 10-9-12

Gas Prices & The Election

  Enough is enough already with gas prices ranging over $4 a gallon in our area and one thing is for sure these gas prices are not helping our sick economy.

  Had a local contractor tell me the other day that it took over $70 to fill the truck he uses in his business and that there just was no way he could raise prices he charges his customers.

  According to Gasbuddy.com gasoline prices in many areas is 34.3 cents higher then they were on the same day last year and in the past few years there has been a seasonal downward trend as the gas pump as the cooler temperatures invade but that is not happening this year.

  The high gas prices are not satisfactory to the majority of American motorists and fingers are being pointed at the Washington political game and the fact that our present administration is holding up drilling projects in the United States.

  Facts don't lie and its readily known that there are many drilling projects in the states and offshore our coasts ready to get started and that they only need permits approved by the federal government. 

  Many congressmen from both sides of the isle are making it very clear that there is a severe lack of action needed now to halt gasoline price increases.

  Folks in the know say there is the need to restrain oil traders on Wall Street. Communications have been sent to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission upbraiding  it for failure to limit speculation in the energy markets.

  One of the duties given the commission in the financial regulation law of 2010 was to limit the amount of crude oil contracts that can be held by individual banks and investment funds.

  It's no secret that speculative oil trading is playing a role in higher gas prices and could help torpedo the economic recovery.

  How do we influence regulators?....guaranteed they will not listen to us the consumer's cries and the kind of pressure that is needed from our top government leaders is not now taking place.

  The economy is a leading factor in the upcoming November elections and the lack of support from our leaders to make the commission obey the law will be taken into the voting booth November 6.