Gas prices stink. Everybody knows that. So it was a great surprise and news well worth hearing when massive oil reserves were discovered by Exxon Mobil Corp. in the Gulf of Mexico while they were drilling a new deep-water well. It was reported that over 700 million barrels of oil could be tapped from this well. Good news for Americans as the gas price was hovering close to $4 a gallon. I did recognize that gas prices have started to come down after the discovery of this great find so maybe we can all take our summer vacation without killing ourselves to buy gas.

This discovery shows there are still enormous amounts of untapped energy sources in the United States and we don’t have to go begging for oil from Opec and other foreign oil reserves from overseas. We have our own oil in the Gulf and other places in the United States and we don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it either. This would also help create employment as there are many needed to work on these rigs and ship the oil to refineries.

Also reported from the CEO of Exxon, Rex Tillerson, was a comment made last week saying that “he does not feel the increase in gas prices hurts the U.S. economy” but recognizes that gasoline is getting too high.  I don’t know what dream world he is living in but I do know as many others know, that it most definitely does hurt the economy when those struggling with part time work having to pay nearly $4 a gallon for fuel. Yes, we do alter our driving habits when the gas prices get high but then when we alter our driving habits we don’t travel anywhere on vacation and we don’t spend money. The whole “spending to share the wealth” is halted in its tracks and every one hurts.

So why isn’t our U.S. government helping the situation of lowering the price of fuel? True the price per gallon is falling but how far will it go? From a report two weeks ago, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a report which highlights evidence that the statements by President Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu were intentionally raising energy costs for Americans which can be seen across all areas of the federal government. From blocking production of the Gulf of Mexico to stifling oil and gas production on public lands we need to change this ideology. This was also reported by U.S. Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) and he agrees it is not good. 

Something has to be done. No good comes from intentionally keeping the gas prices high as we see in Europe and no other environmental ideas for better energy will ever surpass the uses of oil and gasoline in our country.  We should be free to utilize what is within the borders of our own United States and help our own citizens in transportation and employment.  I have written about this numerous times and hope the message of a better federal government comes to pass.  As citizens we need to wake up and come together to voice our opinion of what we want so our federal government will listen. Our lifestyle depends on it.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is now the author of four books. Her latest, “Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow’s Perspective” is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com or check out her blog at www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com.