Comment Text:
The timeliness of this could not be better. Last night, my husband and I watched the documentary "Inside Job".
My husband and I have our own inspection business in the construction/real estate industry. He does a lot of driving for work every day, and in addition to the downturn in the construction/real estate industry over the past 3 years, we also feel the effects of the increase in gas prices. Since the 2008 financial crisis, our company (which has been in business in good standing since 1996), struggles each month to meet our obligations and have had to enter into hardship programs. 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.
