With unemployment reaching new heights, job numbers frighteningly bad, the value of homes crashing to new lows and government intrusions overheating people’s lives, no one should be surprised that “Americans are losing their cool.”

That quote comes from Newsweek’s report regarding their latest national poll.

From the same report, here’s another quote: “Rising anger levels (are) affecting everything.”

Drilling down a bit further into the poll data …

In response to the question, “How does your personal economic situation make you feel?” 52 percent of participants said “nervous,” 48 percent said “anxious,” 44 percent said “upset” and 30 percent said “angry.”

Ponder the human reality reflected in those numbers.

While understandable that people fear the unknown and uncertain, the response spectrum confirms that, increasingly, Americans are scared.

Thus, taken as a whole, our national situation is about much, much more than being nervous. Our nation is at risk.

Why?

Consider that such responses as those reported in the poll indicate that people do not understand either what is happening to them or what has been perpetrated on them.

Because issue examples seem endless, I invite readers to send along your favorites.

In the meantime, let’s review a key issue that goes to the heart of both our national economy as well as our personal economy - energy costs.

For example, gasoline and electricity prices are soaring. In addition to the base costs of petroleum extraction and electric power generation, gasoline and electricity rates are soaring due to government taxes, regulation schemes and hidden fees.

Examples include regulation schemes such as ReGGIe (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) a regional initiative by northeastern states. Pushed by environmentalists, financial wizards and politicians always on the lookout to secure special voting blocks, the stated aim of such regional regulatory agencies is to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” The way they plan to do that is via a “cap and trade” program for emissions from power plants.

Of course, the cost to buy coupons to offset higher emissions levels ultimately is paid by rate-payers in each of the states.

In other words, it’s an indirect tax on citizens.

And, “as of 2010 three states had used some of the money to balance the overall budget.”

Then, there are taxes people pay at the pump on each gallon of gasoline.

For your quick comparison, here is a four-state snapshot of the amount of gas tax per gallon being charged. Be sure to add the federal gas tax at .184 cents per gallon to the following:

California is highest at .472 cents per gallon.

Connecticut is fourth highest at .452 cents per gallon.

Alabama is 38th at .209 cents per gallon.

Alaska is lowest at .08 cents per gallon.

Make no mistake, government regulations, invisible tax and fee schemes, as well as gasoline taxes, are squeezing citizens further every day.

Both state and federal governments are at fault when it comes to causing higher energy prices.

Given depressed home values, few job opportunities, and increasing unemployment, it is no wonder that “Americans are losing their cool.”

Government can act now to take that heat off people.

During a Caucus For Citizens roundtable in Connecticut over the weekend, I asked two state legislators who were graciously in attendance to introduce legislation that would either suspend the Connecticut state tax on gas for 12-24 months or cut it 50 percent over the same period. The same call makes sense in most other states.

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications and founder of Citizens for Change. A professional member of the National Speakers Association, he is available pro bono for charitable fundraisers and public forums and can be reached via email at richolivastro@gmail.com or by phone at 1-877-RichSpeaks.