Facts At A Glance

What American Consumers Are Saying...

"It appears, from this sample of opinion from American consumers, that there is growing discontent with the new energy policies emerging from Congress, and a desperate need for a return to a realistic approach to reduce costs by increasing domestic supplies of fuels through a broad, diverse portfolio without federal mandates and punitive taxes to pay for them."

Charles T. Drevna
President, National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA)
May 27, 2008

…About Revenue and So-called 'Price Gouging'

From a Reader in Salisbury, Md.: "Oil companies aren't responsible for gasoline prices. Record profits are not the result of price-fixing, gouging, profiteering, squeezing the supply, black magic or alignment of moons around Saturn. … Still need someone to blame? How about Congress, which blocks nuclear power or the building of new refineries? The last refinery built in this country was in 1976. Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge? Off limits. … While it may feel good decrying oil companies, it makes little economic sense." (Letter to the Editor, The Daily Times [Salisbury, Md.], April 28, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in Heber City, Utah: "Oil companies have been investigated at taxpayer expense dozens of times without any meaningful result. The investigations are announced but not the results." (Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, May 6, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in Towanda, Ill.: "Our free-market economy is built on revenue. More revenue means more jobs along with higher incomes, more investment in equipment and people, and higher standards of living. … Congress seems almost constantly at war with the oil companies - slapping them with taxes and questioning their CEOs while simultaneously ignoring the fact that higher profits lead to more exploration, drilling and development. If anyone is to blame for our current energy mess, it's Congress." (Letter to the Editor, The Pantagraph [Bloomington, Ill.], May 18, 2008 [emphasis added])

…About Congress' Unwillingness to Develop Our Domestic Resources

From a Reader in Alexandria, Va.: "Congress, state governments, environmental groups and global warming advocates have all placed roadblocks in the way of developing our own energy sources, especially oil. We should go all out in our development of our own oil resources, both onshore and offshore. … The blame lies here at home for not exploiting our own resources in a responsible way. Other countries have been drilling offshore successfully, without harm to the environment, for a long time." (Letter to the Editor, The Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in Columbia, Ill.: "Now we know who is helping raise the price of oil and gasoline. The Democrats in Congress have defeated the plan to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. When you are looking for blame for our current high prices and dependency on foreign oil, they are the place to start." (Letter to the Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 19,2008 [emphasis added, link unavailable])

From a Reader in Slidell, La.: "If these congressmen were serious about finding the culprit for high oil prices and our dependence on oil imports, they would be looking in the mirror. Congress has blocked domestic production of oil and gas by limiting the places where oil companies can explore. … We need Congress to develop a comprehensive energy policy that addresses increases in domestic production of oil and gas while developing alternative sources of energy. The best time to do that was 20 years ago. The second best time is today." (Letter to the Editor, The Times-Picayune, May 26, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in Laurel Hollow, N.Y.: "The higher prices we face are due to a lack of supply, caused by our steadfast refusal as a country to use our own resources. The only way to lower prices, and remove the risk of economic recession, is to mitigate our dependency on foreign sources of energy. There is now no reliable or cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels. So we must accept reality and drill on our soil and build our own refineries. If our elected officials lack the will to make this happen, we need to replace them." (Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, May 12, 2008 [emphasis added])

…About Ethanol and the Biofuels Mandate

From a Reader in Prairie Village, Kansas: "My car hates ethanol. … America's ethanol policy is contributing to food shortages and starvation around the world. New data shows that ethanol is not green after all, but is damaging the environment in many ways. Since ethanol is not what we thought it would be, America's policy must change. People are beginning to learn the true cost of using ethanol. If our government repeals our ethanol policy now, they can treat the whole thing as a failed experiment. If they delay, it will be viewed as failed leadership." (Letter to the Editor, The Kansas City Star, May 5, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in Burrillville, R.I.: "Ethanol subsidies as a response to high energy costs are a classic example of the kind of stupid idea that only government could embrace. I have no great love for the oil companies, but most of the blame for rapidly rising food and energy costs can be laid squarely at the feet of Congress." (Letter to the Editor, The Providence Journal, May 21, 2008 [emphasis added])

From a Reader in East Alton, Ill.: "[The] ethanol subsidy is proving to be one of the greatest bamboozles ever foisted upon us American taxpayers. We were led to believe that ethanol used as a motor fuel would lower our dependence on imported oil. The truth is that it increases our dependence on it." (Letter to the Editor, The Telegraph [Alton, Ill.], May 21, 2008 [emphasis added]).