Comment Text:
To whom it may concern:
I am writing you to demand that you impose and enforce the Wall Street Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Rules in order to reduce the cost of gasoline and energy for average American consumers like me. I am calling on you to regulate the speculation of oil futures and to in doing so reduce the price of energy for the American people.
In a time, such as this, when minimum wage is still below $7.50 in almost every state, and jobs that pay more than minimum wage are almost impossible to find, gas pump prices are one of the leading forces behind most American's lack of spending money, or even ability to pay their bills.
Gas station prices have hovered around $3.50 per gallon for months now, as well as in summers' past; and when you factor in that most people are expected to pay their bills and hold down a job (getting to and from) gas prices are clearly a detriment to our daily lives. When it costs around $45 - $60 to fill up an average driver's tank, that means, a minimum wage worker would need to work a full 8-hour day in order to fill their tank one time. When you also factor in the energy costs of an average sized apartment at about $100, or $150 if they use A/C, that requires up to 21 hours of work on their part just to cover electric costs.
It doesn't take long, using logic and an appreciation for the hard work of the majority of our country, to see that it's unrealistic for people to continue to live this way, and still somehow be able to cover rent ($500-$800/mo.), water($20-$30/mo.), food expenses (which are affected by oil also), and god forbid trying to raise a family with all those things included. How much should people be required to work in order to afford the basic necessities of life? Should we the people be allowed at any point to enjoy the fruit of our labor?
It's more necessary now than ever that we respond to the need of the people before allowing these corporate tools called "speculation" be used against them. I support this reform, because I believe the need of the people should outweigh the greed of big oil.
Sincerely,
Gary Siconolfi, Jr.
Gary Siconolfi Jr
33 Sunset Dr.
Debary, FL 32713
