Senator Cantwell, a woman with unbelievable political power over people, is a moron. There is no other
conclusion. She has seen fit to propose legislation outlawing price gouging. She doesn't define what this
means, but those who don't comply with her unwritten guidelines are subject to financial ruin. Land of the
free? Yeah, right.
Here's my letter. Since I'm not a constituent, she and her sycophantic boot-licking staff ignored me. Can't
say I'm surprised.
Dear Senator Cantwell,
I read about your radio address and the proposed price-gouging legislation. To threaten oil companies with
fines and their officers with imprisonment requires that you define the alleged crime in question.
Otherwise, how do people know whether they are acting in accordance with the law? To do that requires
you as lawmaker to set the price above which the "gouging" becomes a criminal act.
Do you know what the price of a gallon of gasoline should be today? How about tomorrow, next week, or a
year from now? Are you a better judge than millions of consumers? That seems to be your assertion. Isn't
that just a little arrogant?
Since oil is a commodity whose supply and demand may fluctuate due to many factors (war in Iraq, political
instability in Venezuela and Bolivia, possible sanctions against Iran, the Katrina damage) and differs from
state to state, your legislation could not possibly take into account these variations.
In other words, senator, you are engaging in some rather thinly veiled political posturing. Fortunately for
you, most of your constituents are incapable of understanding the most basic economic concepts. We have
the criminally inept public school system to thank for that.
By all means, let's repeal the laws of economics to stop the "hurting" of Americans by those evil oil
companies. Let's dictate automobile mileage standards and see thousands more die on our roads because
car companies are forced to make lighter, more dangerous cars in order to comply with your hare-brained
schemes.
Evidently members of Congress are exempt from making even the simplest of cost-benefit analyses. Further,
they never take responsibility for the unintended consequences that they fail to consider but that always
happen.
You are a national embarrassment, Senator Cantwell, and your colleagues are no better. Do us all a big favor
and resign your office. Stop being a self-righteous nuisance. Get a life, and get a real job!
Sincerely,
Steve Hogan
Sunnyvale Ca
