Interesting Reading, and demanding answers

Carole Coleman: I wanted to slap him (Watch the interview)


A demand that the CEO's of energy companies explain themselves to the American people.

From the Give 'Em Hell Harry site:

The Democratic Policy Committee recently invited executives from our nations largest gas companies to come to Capitol Hill and testify why Americans are paying so much at the pump. Not a single one decided to appear.

Its time the CEOs of ExxonMobil, Shell, Amoco, Texaco, and Chevron answered to the American people:

Why in the face of national tragedy and record profits for your companies are Americans paying 50% more at the pump than they did one year ago?

Dear Sir,

The Democratic Policy Committee recently invited executives from your company to come to Capitol Hill and testify why Americans are paying so much at the pump. Your responsibility is not only to Congress, but also to consumers like me who are being forced to pay these outrageously high prices.

Why in the face of national tragedy and record profits for your companies are Americans paying 50% more at the pump than they did one year ago?

(my comments, added to the letter)

I submit that voluntarily cutting your PROFITS by 50% would do wonders to help the economy. Because of the greatly increased gas prices (and so quickly), the costs of farming, producing, and shipping food and basic goods have started to increase in price. This translates to much higher prices at the stores, reducing the ability of tens of millions of Americans to purchase anything but basic necessities. This reduces manufacturing and production needs, which leads to layoffs and companies closing, and thus leaves still more Americans with less money to spend - harming the economy, and, eventually, YOUR profits, too.

Plus what this does to the cost of heating fuels as winter closes in. I know many of you are from the South, where you don't really have to worry about it, but for those of us in the northern 2/3 of the country, it's a serious concern.

I hope that you will voluntarily make some changes that may cost you some of your fantastical bonuses in the short run, but which will help this country at least hold on economically in the long term.

If you don't do it voluntarily, I hope that Congress will step forward and insist you do so. Your current policies are on the level of profiteering.