Comment Text:
My name is Jon Stewart. I lost my job over a year ago, and have been trying to find a good-paying job close to the small town where I live, but have now been forced to consider jobs that are over 50 miles away from home, and actually pay LESS than my unemployment benefits. Even AFTER I take such a job, I will have to pay over $100 per week at today's gas prices just to get to work, and will have to seek a mortgage restructure based on my lower income. This has got to stop! I do not want to participate in this game, yet I am being forced to pay into the ante anyway!
I urge you to curb excessive gambling in commodities markets like food and oil.
While many factors contribute to today’s highly volatile commodity prices, it is clear that excessive speculation is partially responsible, as shown in dozens of studies by respected institutions such as Princeton, MIT, Petersen Institute, University of London, Yale, the United Nations and the U.S. Senate.
Speculation thus imposes financial hardships on families around the country. Sudden rises in gas and food prices force us to make difficult decisions and sacrifices. Especially right now, with so many families struggling, and unemployment barely beginning to decrease, we cannot allow speculators to unduly affect our food and gas prices.
Please put in place effective position limits rules, and do not allow them to be undermined by exemptions or exceptions, or allow Wall Street gamblers to escape them.
Thank you for your consideration.
