That’s right folks. The industry that employs over 120,000 people nationwide, the industry that provides 49% of our nation’s electricity, Barack Obama wants to cap-and-trade-tax them into bankruptcy.

With energy prices soaring and the Farmer’s Almanac predicting a cold winter, one would think that the top issue for the returning 110th Congress would be our energy policy.

One would be wrong.

With all indicators pointing towards gains in both the House and the Senate and the potential of a Congress so packed with Democrats that Republicans would be unable to filibuster, Congress has put on the cruise control. They are hoping for an Obama win in November, which will ensure that whatever crazy, socialistic, cap-and-trade energy plan they come up with they can just push on through without opposition and without compromise. No matter how crazy it may be, no matter how much it hurts the United States and our economy, they’ll be able to ram it down our throats.

How crazy could they get about energy? How about nationalizing the oil industry crazy.

Yes, the same people who can’t make the Senate cafeteria run without losing over $1 million taxpayer dollars per year are floating the possibility of nationalizing the resource that fuels our economy.

So what are they doing?

Buying your votes with borrowed dollars, of course!

According to Forbes:

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd is peddling a $24.1 billion stimulus bill that includes $10 billion for infrastructure and energy investments, like $100 million for Amtrak and $52 million in additional funding for the Federal Housing Administration. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is pitching a $50 billion stimulus plan.

The only way it could be more of a bribe would be if they personally handed you your “stimulus check” while escorting you to the voting booth.

Congress’ approval ratings hit an all-time low of 9% in July. Is it any wonder as to why?

Forwarded to our email:

Senator Brown:

In your email newsletter, you say: “drilling today will do nothing to bring down gas prices this summer - or even this year”

So I ask you, Mr. Brown, are we going to not need the oil a few years from now? Are we all of a sudden going to be free of a need for oil in 4 years? in 8? even in 10? NO. We are still going to need oil for a long, long time to come. Congress needs to lift all bans on drilling the Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, and the oil shale in the Bakken Formation in the Dakotas, which according to government websites holds over 2100 gigabarrels of recoverable oil, or enough oil to fuel the United States for 110 years at our current rate of consumption. That’s true energy independence for over 100 years, Senator. Why are we not pursuing it?

In your newsletter, you also say: “the President should tap into our nation’s oil supply by opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That will help bring down gas prices now”

Mr. Brown, tapping the SPR would be a costly move to taxpayers. We would be draining the SPR of oil that was purchased at yesterday’s prices, and have to re-fill it at tomorrow’s prices. Simple math, Senator: Let’s say we release even a mere 100,000 barrels of oil from the reserve, which were purchased at $100 per barrel. If we replace those at tomorrow’s prices of $150 per barrel, that would burden the taxpayers to the tune of an additional $5,000,000.

If you truly want to help Ohio citizens, you will push for the revocation of the Congressional ban on drilling in both the Outer Continental Shelf and ANWR. Further, you will push for the repeal of the gasoline tax. Again, Senator, this is simple economics, simple math, and common sense:

President Bush’s revocation of the Executive Order prohibiting drilling on the OCS dropped the price at the pump by 50 cents and we haven’t even started drilling yet. If Congress would likewise lift their bans, we could see the price at the pump drop by 25-60 cents a gallon. Further, a Congressional repeal of the gasoline taxes, which burdens taxpayers by an additional 40 cents per gallon, would drop the price per gallon even further. Such actions by you and your fellow Senators would drive the price at the pump down well under $3.00 per gallon, possibly as low as $2.60 per gallon. The positive impact to the economy in Ohio — and the nation — cannot be emphasized enough.

May I remind you, Senator, that it is your duty to represent the best interests of your state and its residents FIRST, and your political party SECOND. Towing your party line in this — and any other — matter may be considered a dereliction of that duty to the state and the people you represent. As such, it will affect my vote, and I can assure you that my vote is not the only one you’ll lose.

Sincerely,
[--redacted--] 
Columbus

Well said. This is an excellent example of how to write your representatives in Congress. And we suggest that you all similarly use The Mailbox to inform your Senators and Representatives in a similar manner. Tell them how their actions (or lack thereof) are preventing our economic prosperity, and that you know it. Tell them that you’re smart enough to do the math that they’re not doing. Remind them what the duties of their job are. And remind them that you are paying attention to what they’re doing, and that your vote is dependent upon their ability to do their job adequately.