Comment Text:
To CFTC and CEC Staffs of the Public Roundtable Discussion;
I became disabled in 2005, and could no longer do the type of work in industry I was used to doing. I had started college to try to start a new career in chemical dependency counseling and to obtain a bachelor's degree, but due to physical setbacks in health and surgery for thyroid cancer had to miss a couple semesters. I finally received my disability in 2008 after 3 years of struggling financially. I have since had additional health issues which has caused an increase in medications of which I have co-pays, and since the health care reform, many budget cuts and revisions on health care, some services are no longer covered by Medicare. I am currently taking online classes at another community college because I cannot afford to buy gasoline to travel back and forth to classes anymore due to the unreasonable costs of gas. I eventually will have to travel to some classes in order to try and get my degree which I have been struggling part-time to obtain, but I live in Kent, Ohio and the closest classes are in Highland Hills, Ohio close to 20-30 miles away. I also have to go for tests to doctors at Cleveland Clinic and for other routine exams, and sometimes I wonder how long will I be able to travel to the clinic with gas prices, food prices and other essential personal items as well as medication costs at a ridiculous high?! I guess I will have to further put off my higher education, and between rent, auto insurance, food, etc. stop driving, although due to the scoliosis I have and degenerative neck disease public transportation long distances or short for that matter will not be accessible for me. Gas prices need to be much lower, and I have read about the Keystone XL Pipeline which will be inexpensive from Canada for connection with the U.S. to end the high costs of overseas gas shipped to the U.S. Canada is willing and near to us, and I appeal to you on behalf of myself and everyone who is suffering from the soaring gas prices to please approve of this pipeline as quick as possible, please. Thank you for taking your time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Bonita Thomas
