[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 45 (Monday, March 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3111-S3112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, in mid-June, I asked Idahoans to share with 
me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded 
by the hundreds. The stories, numbering well over 1,200, are 
heartbreaking and touching. While energy prices have dropped in recent 
weeks, the concerns expressed remain very relevant. To respect the 
efforts of those who took the opportunity to share their thoughts, I am 
submitting every e-mail sent to me through an address set up 
specifically for this purpose to the Congressional Record. This is not 
an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves 
immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. 
Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday 
expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what 
Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last 
beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have today's letters printed 
in the Record.
   There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Even before the almost (daily) increase in a gallon of gas, 
     I tried to drive as little as possible and carpool when 
     possible. And, when driving, to bunch errand together in the 
     same area of the city, so as to use less gasoline.
       It is summer, now, and I try to use my car just once a 
     week, for church on Sunday (buses do not run on Sunday, bike 
     helmet causes helmet hair-do, which is not cool for church).
       When I do purchase gas, it shocks me how much I pay. I did 
     not budget for $4+/gallon gas. I worry that the effect of 
     escalating petroleum prices on all sectors of our commerce 
     and so, my life (along with the incredible rise in health 
     care costs), may severely compromise my carefully-planned 
     retirement budget. Some days I wonder what will become of me.
       However, I keep on trying to live lightly, use Boise's 
     bare-bones bus system, and ride my bike whenever and wherever 
     I can. I know I do not look chic with my old-lady Schwinn 
     with side baskets, but at my age, I try not to be too vain.
       I have more time than employed people to use the bus and 
     ride my bike to the grocery, appointments, and other places. 
     Unfortunately, I also have osteoarthritis, so riding my bike 
     or walking any distance from the bus stops has become more 
     difficult.
       Nonetheless, I try to do my part to stay green and 
     influence others to do the same. I am a little old lady who 
     conserves water in my landscape and in my house (e.g., bucket 
     of water in the shower to catch the cold water while waiting 
     for the shower to heat up, buying/installing water saving 
     fixtures and appliances), recycles and pulls recyclables out 
     of others' trash cans, has implemented several recycling 
     programs, has a mostly xeric landscape, eschews plastic water 
     bottles and paper cups, and is pure in heart.
       I wish I had more answers on what will become of all of us. 
     On dark days, I think our civilization is going to implode 
     because we do not seem to be able to get smart enough fast 
     enough to save ourselves. We knew--as individuals, as a 
     government, as a society--that we would run out of fossil 
     fuels and would need alternative energy sources. They are at 
     least 20 years out from being viable.
       I pray that God will let me die before the last 
     catastrophic days of all our lives. Thank you for a chance to 
     tell my story and express my opinion.
     Frances, Boise.
                                  ____

       It saddens me greatly that we Idahoans, along with all 
     Americans are suffering like we are at the hands of big 
     government and environmentalists. It is clear and has been 
     for years that we can and should be accessing our own 
     recourses in the United States. We should not be dependent on 
     other countries for our oil. It is simple really. No matter 
     how long it takes it needs to be done and we should not put 
     it off another minute. I fear greatly that our next president 
     (the one most likely to be elected) will overlook this issue 
     and it will rapidly get worse.
       The general public, average hard working Americans are 
     struggling. If one does not make $100,000 a year, it is 
     getting impossible to live. I look at my own situation (which 
     is not good) and then wonder how those less fortunate are 
     even surviving?
       My husband is a small partner on a dairy. I lost my job in 
     November of last year due to an office closure and I am now 
     working from home. Yet, there is hardly any work. As a travel 
     agent, money only comes in when people travel. And that is 
     not happening much anymore. We have never had much left over 
     after bills were paid; however a year ago if my kids needed 
     socks, I could at least buy a package. This year, I have to 
     use one credit . . . card to pay another just to keep afloat. 
     In fact, I have to put my groceries on credit which is pretty 
     much run out. Do you not find that sad? I fear greatly what 
     is ahead. Should not people who have good jobs like us be 
     able to live without worrying about food or socks? We are 
     $500 away from bankruptcy.
       And the stimulus package? Really, what kind of joke was 
     that? First of all, we were lied to about when we would 
     receive it direct deposited, so a good chunk of it went to 
     NSF fees. Then the rest went to barely put a dent in catching 
     up bills. Save it? Whose idea (dream) was that? I do not know 
     a person who saved it.
       I am behind in my car payments which I guess if I lose my 
     car, I will not need to worry much about gas now, will I? I 
     am sick, insecure, and sad about what I know is coming. We 
     Americans cannot hold on much longer. Why is not someone 
     doing anything about this? Maybe because most government 
     officials make enough money to live comfortably right? I bet 
     you can afford socks right? I bet you can buy food for your 
     family without maxing a credit card to do so. Why cannot I?
       Please . . . help us . . . and soon.
                                                         Michelle.
                                 ______
                                 
       I want to thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail 
     and for contacting us about how energy prices are having an 
     impact on us.
       My wife and I are both college graduates; she is a teacher 
     and I am a chiropractor at Saint Alphonsus Hospital. We have 
     sky-high student loans we pay on and as such watch our budget 
     close. The rise in gas as well as the result in increased 
     prices in food has caused us to ride our bikes to work; we 
     live almost in Eagle and I ride the Greenbelt all the way 
     into downtown Boise to try and save money. We have also 
     planted a garden in hopes that it will save us some money at 
     the store.
       Our overall shopping is down, we do not buy clothing, or 
     ``extras'' anymore and we just buy what we need and then save 
     up for fun items once in a while. Our shopping has turned 
     from new items to more and more used or discount so I know 
     that if others are feeling this way too the major retail 
     stores will be suffering a major blow, no wonder why the 
     economy is slow? We love to travel, but we do not as much now 
     due to the cost of gas, food and airline tickets. In short, 
     our way of life is being crippled and will continue to be so 
     till we wake up and start using our own natural resources.
     Brian and Amy, Boise.
                                  ____

       I have watched to rising cost of fuel affect everyone I 
     know here in the Treasure Valley. My parents own a small 
     trucking company in Emmett, and employed two other drivers. 
     When the price of diesel fuel hit over $3.50 a gallon, my 
     stepfather had to lay off the other two drivers just to keep 
     him in business. Now the price of diesel is over $4.80 a 
     gallon, and my stepfather is going to have to go out of 
     business. My parents are too young to retire, but too old to 
     get into any other line of work. What are they going to do to 
     survive? Could you ask your other Senators that please? I 
     have a friend who lives in Emmett, but works in Nampa at Buy 
     MPC loyally for the past 12 years. He bought a house in 
     Emmett at this time, and was living the American dream. Today 
     he is starting to consider letting his home go into 
     foreclosure. This is because he cannot afford the gasoline to 
     drive his car to work and back, and he is thinking of renting 
     an apartment in Nampa to be closer to work. He does not drive 
     some gas-guzzling SUV, but a fuel-efficient compact, and his 
     fuel expense is still more than he can afford. Many of my 
     friends are in a very similar situation. Are the CEOs of the 
     oil companies going to come in and fix things so my parents 
     and friends get to keep their jobs and their homes? Could you 
     ask them that for me? I wonder how many CEOs of oil 
     companies, and the big city politicians, would be willing to 
     come out here to Idaho and work for $11.00 an hour and make 
     the commute from Emmett to Boise five days a week? Maybe they 
     should, so that way they know pain many hard working 
     Idahoan's are going through right now.
       I have some ideas for you and other Senators to think 
     about. Do any of you watch the Discovery Channel? I have seen 
     many solutions to our energy needs on this channel. In Europe 
     they are testing a Hydrogen Fusion Reactor. This thing is 
     environmentally safe, produces no waste, and cannot melt 
     down. It also produces a lot more power than the old nuclear 
     reactors that we have now. Why not look at doing this later 
     on down the road, instead of going nuclear? During the last 
     energy crisis of the latter 70s and early 80s, my grandfather 
     showed me a solution. He ran his 1960s Farmal tractor on 
     alcohol, and all he had to do was make a minor adjustment to 
     the carburetor. He did the same thing with his 65 Ford pick-
     up. If this worked so well with 1960s technology, why would 
     not it work with all the technology that has came after it? I 
     turn on the news, and all I hear politicians and CEOs saying 
     how we either cannot do these things, or it would be more 
     expensive if we did these things. Yet, I know from personal 
     knowledge, and from what I see and hear on the Discovery 
     Channels, that this just is not the truth. Maybe the time has 
     come for Idaho to stop waiting on the federal government to 
     do something and take the bull by the horns. Why cannot Idaho 
     fix Idaho's energy needs? Thank you for your time in reading 
     this, and thank you for asking for these stories.
     Aaron.
                                  ____

       My husband and three children live in Nampa. We both work 
     in Boise. It is a 25-mile commute one way every day in the 
     morning five days a week for my husband and three times a 
     week for me. Going to the

[[Page S3112]]

     gas pump so often does not make one happy. I cannot believe 
     the lack of common sense our government officials have 
     concerning most issues but right now but this is the issue 
     affecting my family the most.
       We try to live our lives in a way that is self-sufficient, 
     trying to lower our debt, trying to not buy on credit, 
     growing a big garden, canning food, storing water and a 
     supply of food for the family and living within our means. We 
     live in a 67-year-old farmhouse because that was all we could 
     afford. It is beat up and needs to be torn down but this is 
     our home so this is the way we live. My husband does not make 
     a lot of money. I only can work in the evenings when he is 
     home for the children because we do not want someone else 
     raising our children who do not care for them in the least. I 
     stopped working full-time five years ago to stay home full-
     time with the children. We lost our health benefits then and 
     have been without since then. With a daughter who has pretty 
     serious asthma and allergies with her medications every month 
     costing about $300 to me needing a $40,000 surgery to 
     reconstruct my knee so the intense pain I live with everyday 
     recedes, any jump in our tight budget puts a strain on us.
       Where do the extra fuel costs come from in my budget? It 
     comes out of the money we buy food with. I cut down on fresh 
     fruits and vegetables. I cut down on cuts of meat. I cut down 
     on dairy products. We live very meagerly. Not in the world's 
     standards mind you, I have lived in a third world country for 
     about 14 months, I know what poor is. The standards we are 
     talking about are our American society.
       Our government does not live within its means; it spends to 
     oblivion. They borrow money like it is monopoly money. They 
     are in our lives too much and should not be. Then the answer 
     they come up with for becoming self-reliant with our oil 
     demands and our energy consumption is: ``cut down on your 
     driving, buy a more fuel efficient car. Do not build any more 
     refineries, do not drill our own oil, do not build nuclear, 
     do not convert coal to oil, do not convert shale to oil and 
     for sure do not drill in ANWR or off our own coasts. Let us 
     lease 100-year leases to China and India and let them take 
     our oil. They will do it right for sure. They are so honest 
     with us and keep us in their minds to try to help us for 
     sure.'' What is wrong with all of our government officials?
       My family lived in Anchorage, Alaska, for the previous 
     eight years before moving to Nampa. We have been debating 
     this ANWR thing since before I can remember. What will it 
     take to knock some common sense into these elected officials? 
     I am tired of them acting like they know what is best for us. 
     I am tired of the environmentalists ruling the world. I am 
     tired of these elected officials playing politics when I am 
     suffering with my family in what I can buy for their dinner.
       Do they worry about not having the right amount of 
     vegetables and fruits for their children so they can grow and 
     be well? No, they do not. I do. And then they vote on issues 
     that like carbon taxes and credits. What the heck is that all 
     about? I am so tired of this. If I could have them in a room 
     for five minutes, I would let them know how I feel. Get your 
     stinking head out of Washington, DC and listen to the people 
     who elected you. Stop taking American's independence and 
     trampling it under your feet. I am more angry than you know.
       Build refineries, build coal plants, drill for oil wherever 
     we can. Get the Chinese and India off our coasts and let us 
     drill. Build nuclear power plants, get the coal and shale and 
     convert it. Stop importing oil from terrorists that control 
     our economy when they want to. Let the Americans be great 
     again. Stop listening to the environmentalists and listen to 
     us. My family suffers because you cannot do the right thing. 
     Beware of continuing in your ways. Some of us have you in our 
     sights and can vote differently. I cannot take this stupidity 
     much longer. I wish you would all just stop fighting, go to 
     your rooms on time out and then think about what you are 
     doing wrong. That is the mother in me. Do the right thing. 
     There, I think that is it for now.
     Jodi and Aaron, Nampa.
                                  ____

       We are writing in response to your letter asking for 
     Idahoans to tell their story about how high fuel prices are 
     affecting them. First I want to say that my family has been 
     expecting this for some time now. We have known that cheap 
     oil is a dream funded by government subsidies working with 
     the big oil companies.
       Oil is not an infinite resource. The U.S. peaked in oil 
     production in the 70s and we believe that the world supply 
     has peaked already and we are now facing the fact that supply 
     cannot keep up with demand. We have actually four things 
     which are coming to a head at this moment in time;
       1. Peak Oil
       2. Peak Food
       3. Climate Change
       4. Economic downturn/recession
       Number 2 through 4 are all due to number 1--peak oil. The 
     world is also experiencing a population problem which has 
     come about from cheap oil resulting in cheap food. It seems 
     like many are in denial about what is happening--and the 
     longer we are in denial, the harder things are going to be.
       We have bought a car which gets 45-50 mpg. We are conscious 
     of when we drive, combining our errands etc. We are growing 
     much of our own food and are sourcing and eating local food 
     as much as possible. We are very involved with the ``Local'' 
     movement as we believe that this is the one thing that is 
     going to save us from a meltdown. We want small government as 
     we do not believe that BIG government is in the people's best 
     interest. The only thing that really seems to matter with BIG 
     government is the bottom line of the corporations and the 
     lobbyists.
       People want change. They want better leadership and leaders 
     with common sense. If we all have to forgo our SUV's and the 
     ``old American lifestyle'' then so be it. We do not see much 
     choice in the matter. We all need to conserve energy and 
     create ways to have renewable energy. This planet cannot 
     handle growth unchecked--which has been the premise up til 
     now. It is going to be painful, but in the long run it is 
     going to be better.
     James and Leslee, Buhl.
                                  ____

       We think we are lucky to be living in Idaho, as the people 
     who live here are resourceful and strong.
     James.
                                  ____

       The high gas prices are killing me when I buy gas. I own a 
     rather old American car. It is a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am with a 
     3.1 liter V6. It is well cared for and gets pretty good gas 
     mileage. 27 mpg around town and 30 mpg on the interstate. 
     With 167,000 miles on the odometer I want to buy a new car 
     but with gas prices around $4 a gallon I hesitate. I want to 
     buy an American car that can use ethanol. General Motors is 
     in the news joining with the Ethanol maker from the 60 
     Minutes TV show to make Ethanol at $1.00 a gallon from old 
     tires, wood chips and garbage. I went to GM dealers and none 
     make or sell flex fuel cars that can be bought in Brazil. My 
     car runs good because I care for it so I guess I will need to 
     wait a few more years to buy myself a new flex fuel car that 
     can run on either gasoline or ethanol.
       I try everything to save gas. My tires are well-inflated 
     and the engine is tuned. I use a Chase Bank credit card that 
     pays me 5% back on gasoline purchases. But the price of gas 
     is still killing me.
       In the short term, I believe that we in the U.S. need to 
     pass laws to permit drilling for oil off the coast and also 
     process oil shale into gasoline. We need to do something now 
     or our country will come to a sudden stop.
     Dan.

                          ____________________