In the last few years, oil prices have surged and people have complained about the manipulations of the industry by the oil companies. The price surge in the last few months clearly has demonstrated just how fragile our economy is.

In the grocery store and at the gas pump, prices are increasing daily. Dow Chemical Co. announced recently it will increase prices on all products by 20 percent. Another winter will be here soon enough and with fuel prices in the $4 per gallon range, many citizens will be adversely affected.

As a result of citizen complaints, congressional hearings were held in which the major oil companies denied any involvement with the pricing problem. As in the past, these hearings ended with no result other than everyone agreeing that the oil companies have nothing to do with oil.

Now oil companies claim the problem exists because of oil speculators and those dealing in hedge funds. If the legislation that created speculators were rescinded, it is reported that the price of oil would drop $20 to $40 per barrel. Corporate greed is destroying the American dream.

It is time for action. What do our representatives plan to do? What do we the people plan to do?

James Landry

Frankfort