Comment Text:
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Linda Rhoades and I am concerned with the continuing rise in the cost of food and fuel. I commute to school two nights a week, a round trip of thirty miles per, in addition to grocery shopping for a family of five. The costs of fuel and food have become excessive in the past few months, with gas over $4.00 a gallon in my hometown of Redlands, CA.
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 ease them or escape them.
Thank you for your consideration.
