Comments on: Letter to Any Politician Who Gives a 'You Know What'

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:01:42 +0000

I am going to try to say this as nicely as possible, which will be difficult. I live in Houston and am a native. We have been going through the most diffcult history in our lives, and to read this story and the comments attached to it are pathetic.

2 million people lost power before Ike ever hit, I was one of them. There are still over 100,000 people in this city that do not have power, proper food, water, ice or gas. I myself was without power for 7 days. My family and I had to drive 3 hours, the day after Ike, just to get more food and supplies and yes that includes gas.

We have endured long gas lines, long food lines, long water lines, and long ice lines and NOBODY seems to care. Our own State isn't helping and FEMA (once again) has done next to nothing. Our beach communities have been wiped out. There are 10's of thousands of people who don't have homes, jobs, electricity, water, food, ice or gas, but you don't get to see it. The national news has found your story to be better than ours.

I think that you all need to do what we did, and start being patient and take care of each other. We have had to endure a situation much worse than yours and it isn't over for a lot of us.

The reason we have gas now and you don't, is simply that the power was out in the pipelines that send gas from us to you. 2/3 of the pipelines are back up and they are doing EVERYTHING they can to get you your gas as quickly as possible.

Be patient and stop your crying.

By: Christi

Christi — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:01:40 +0000

I concur with Mr. Tuchman.
I'm thinking one solution is to oust all the established politicians every voting opportunity. We can eradicate the complacency and the apathy that seems to come over folks when they get to DC. They (especially GWB) forget who put them there and what their purpose is...to look out for the citizens of this country.
They stink of corruption and arrogance.
I'm not one to complain unless I can do a better job myself. At this point I think my cat would do a better job than those greedy, demoralized freaks. How did they get so out of touch with our reality? We as citizens really need to be proactive and do a better job of researching those we put into office. Let's be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:01:39 +0000

this mess will not be fixed till the people in power go through what we are going through. as americans, we are asleep. we let them get away with corruption and greed. then reward them with big bonuses. it has to end now. they are bringing us and the country to its knees. everybody i talk to is worried about housing, bank accounts, jobs. life is stressful, that is a given. but what is going on is man made. through deceit. i have lost faith in the system. it is not for the people. i speak to newly arrived cubans. they are saying, this is getting no different than communist cuba. only over there, you know how things are. here it is all behind our backs. i have asthma and disabled. it is getting to the point, i have to make the meds last 2 or 3 months as opposed to each month. come on washington. stop with the b.s. speeches. looks like all politicians are used car salesmen. next time i vote, will see who is there. good or not, you are out. only way to clean house. since you all lie anyway. my sons mom is losing her home, my moms cannot afford meds, i cannot afford meds. my sons uncle wants to come here from colombia. i tell him forget it. stay where you are. if this keeps up we will be in worse shape than any third world nation.

By: Cyndi

Cyndi — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:01:03 +0000

The stations have gas and most have had it all along.. In NC we have the price gouging law and they will not sell it unless they get triple the price and since the law won't let them raise it, they are saying Suck it! drivers...so we are. Sen. Heath Shuler came thru for us Friday and had several tankers brought into Asheville from Tennessee. There for awhile we had no gas at all, at least now, you can find it but at a price of $4.29.
The stations in a near by town of Old Fort jacked their prices up on the Wednesday two days before Hurricane Ike even hit.....it was $3.69 and by two o'clock they were at $4.99! Schmucks!

By: Susan in Charlotte

Susan in Charlotte — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:54 +0000

Thank you Gary!! Well said.

This is as phony as the gas shortage in the 70s. All the attention is on the bailout, but lack of gas to get to work and school will take down the economy also.

Exactly right about officials seeming unconcerned. They just tell us that large shipments are coming and then say that it will take 2 more days to get delivered to the stations. Lines are longer than before. Could this lack of attention to the problem be because our president is an oilman? Watch for prices to go even higher in Charlotte after the supply is fixed. We are already above the national average.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:41 +0000

I live in Houston, TX, and have been without power for two solid weeks following hurricane Ike. As I read about your difficulties in Atlanta, I know how tough it can be. I also can't help but wonder, as our financial markets continue crashing, with big businesses failing almost daily, with loans increasingly difficult to obtain, how much longer until we wake up and realize we're actually living in a 3rd world country.

Interesting times.

By: docrock.tx

docrock.tx — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:21 +0000

If this is not economic terrorism at work,there ain't a cow in Texas.I wish some intrepid reporter would see if he can find even one politician with no gas.When the Market,Banks,and Corporations wre given free reign,Middle Class Americans were doomed to pay for the excesses of Corporate America's "C.E.O. Mentality".With the astounding nuber of tax breaks for big business(read oil companies),the only people left to pay taxes are you and me brother.Refineries cost money to build,which cuts the size of bonuses and dividends.Vote evry one of them out of office.

By: Bean

Bean — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:05 +0000

Such a crybaby... I'm in Atlanta, and I just stopped by gas station downtown, and had to wait all of 5 minutes in line. Yeah there's a shortage, Yeah you have to wait to get gas, but at least we still have gas! Its not the fed govt's job to keep everyone from having to wait in line. If it's that big of a problem, just use public transportation!

By: Nashvillian

Nashvillian — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:59:58 +0000

Interesting how quick people are to judge and toss out spiteful comments based on the "color" of one's state.

Tennessee and Georgia may be "red" states, yet Nashville and Atlanta, the areas suffering most from these outages, are "blue" cities.

By: tylergh

tylergh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:59:38 +0000

Also,you might not know this, becuase of what the media wants you to hear or not to hear! Yes ,we are busy drilling wells here in Texas but what they don't tell you how many oil wells are pluged off and or are flow regulated by Legislation our current leaders in congress and the house have created, Yep,thats right ! less than1/2 of the wells get used. I know I drill them!! and plug them! So Prove me wrong ! Why the wells are being capped? WE HAVE TO BUY OIL FROM SOMEONE BECAUSE WE CAN'T USE OURS

By: Brown

Brown — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:59:30 +0000

Why is everything that matters to the American people being ignored? They say the price of gas is high because the dollar is weak, and the dollar is weak because of the this mortgage meltdown. Hears an Idea, Increase regulation on energy as well as the financial markets, bailout both the American people and the Banks. Shore up the banks risk and Introduce a cap on home loan interest rates for future and existing loans at 6% and lower, and a 12% cap on credit cards. This should strengthen the dollar, keep people in there homes, and get us out spending again. This way the tax payer see some relief up front.

By: Dave (from Augusta, Ga)

Dave (from Augusta, Ga) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:58:59 +0000

Quit your crying. Make a few cutbacks on your fuel consumption until distribution levels back out and be glad you live in the greatest country in the world. You don't believe that? I'll gladly purchase you a one way ticket to an alternate country. I hear Afghanistan has plenty of fuel.
Cry babies.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:58:52 +0000

For those of you who are laying the blame on the current administration and the fact that Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina are RED states, let me remind you that both the House and Senate have been led by the Democrats for almost two years now. In those two years, no substantial legislation has been passed to help the average American citizen who is working hard to support their famiy. In 2006 the Democrats hailed that change would finally be coming now that they had control of the House and Senate. Empty promises. The only thing I've seen accomplished is that they adjourned the Congress for 5 weeks of vacation without passing any energy legislation that was on the table and they certainly ensure they get their pay raise voted in when it comes due.

By: Ms. Ferguson

Ms. Ferguson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:58:36 +0000

THANK YOU!!! I have been wondering why there hasn’t been any national news coverage of this CRISIS. Sonny Perdue has the nerve to be in Europe and BLAMES US for the problem before he trots off to his boondoggle. I want the nation to know that we are NOT being greedy, there is simply NO GAS. And when there is gas, the greedy gas station owners limit you to 20 bucks, but then raise the prices – I paid 4.39 for regular on Sunday. So, that only gives you a little over 4 gallons which causes you to hunt for gas in another day or two. Most folks in GA commute and MUST fill up once a week. The ATL news media will have you believe that we are panicking, but that is a LIE. I waited until I was way less than 1/4 a tank and I STILL had to hunt gas for TWO hours. Another game the gas stations owners are playing is forcing us to pay cash. By doing that, they only give you a cash receipt – so there is no evidence of what you paid for the gas. Luckily, I was paying attention and I have my gas receipt, but how many Georgians are in a hurry, rushing or nervous from the violence that has been breaking out at the pumps? I made my complaint this morning and I hope the gas station gets fined!!! I HOPE ALL ARE WATCHING AND VOTE THEIR INTEREST COME NOVEMBER!!!!!!

Jeremy,
I filled up on Boulevard in Atlanta and it was 4.39. These gas station owners jack up their prices and force you to pay cash in hopes that you won’t ask for a gas receipt and that way, you can’t report them for price gouging. This is real. Believe it.

By: ed

ed — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:57:37 +0000

hold it the first thing "gas crisses" is caused by thoose that panic buy and still doing that..
second lets put blame where it belongs that being on the EPA and the enviromental wack-jobs that say no building refineries .... last refinery was built in 75 ... since then they have closed down many of them due to the factr they cant be updated ...the trouble is here is that the demand is higher now for many reasons one is the diffrent blends of gas in parts of the country.. second the ones that make gas also make heating oil ... so you have say 8 refineries now working 24/7 360 days of the yr... of the 50 or so that we once had so you have ton of oil coming in ton in demand and you have a funnel that only can handle 1/3 of that being refined .....

By: PhillR

PhillR — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:57:24 +0000

You are upset because congress ignored Atlanta's gas problem? Are you kidding me? There is a financial crisis going on that could make the Great Depression look like a day at the beach, and you think gas lines in Atlanta should be elevated to a national level?

Listen up middle America. You just got your representatives to vote against the bailout, and you are worried about gas? Watch your 401ks, pensions, credit, children's educations, roads and jobs disappear in the coming months.

When China sells off its Treasury holdings, and the dollar collapses and oil prices double, and farmers are exporting their food to Asia while you stand in a soup line, talk to me about your oil shortage in Atlanta then.

By: Gabe in Asheville NC

Gabe in Asheville NC — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:57:23 +0000

Well, I'm having to cancel things left and right because there is just NO gas. All the stations near me are closed and they have no idea when they will have gas again. I thought I'd wait for things to improve and heard rumors (and read in the paper) that the shortage would be over this past Friday. Now it's the end of Monday and no gas in sight. What a mess.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:57:12 +0000

I think this particular shortage, is being made worse by people who are wasting gas foraging around for it. We all know there isn't going to be an increase in supply for at least another week, so we either need to carpool or use bikes or other alternative transportation. if you use a truck lower the tail gate, if you use an SUV unload it and try to get people to carpool with you if possible. This is a local problem if the locals don't work to fix it, what exactly is capitol hill supposed to do?

By: aisling

aisling — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:55:56 +0000

I'm getting really tired of all the snark from the people who don't have to deal with this problem. Yes, Georgia is unfortunately a red state. Does that mean we all voted Republican? NO. Does that mean Republicans deserve to be "punished" by being ignored, just because they exercised their right to vote? alas, NO.
Yes, alternative fuel should be a priority, as should public transportation. Does that mean everyone who drives a car is just a selfish arse in an SUV? NO. Atlanta is a major international hub. It's a huge sprawl of a city. Yes, it was poorly planned out with regards to transportation, because it boomed too fast after the Olympics. The fact of the matter is that Atlanta is a worker city. Most of the people who live here are here because of jobs, not because of culture or some great love of the place. Which means we live in the sprawl, because that's what's affordable and livable. Which then means we're required to drive to get places.
I agree that people could increase their carpooling and fuel frugality. But it's not the immediate catch-all answer, and neither is changing one's political leanings. I personally absolutely CANNOT carpool for my job. Nor can I walk or ride MARTA or bicycle to work, nor can I telecommute. It's the life of an independent contractor, and believe me, there are lots of us here. Buy a Prius? Don't make me laugh. I can't afford one, or any of the hybrids out there. Even with hybrids and motorcycles, we still have to fuel up. And, oh, I voted blue, btw. See what that got me.
THE POINT of this article, is that we're supposed to be the UNITED States. Except for the southeast, I guess.

By: mari

mari — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:55:40 +0000

No shortage here ....Northern Michigan ..........gas is $3.81