When oil prices went on the rise and I received a whopping 22-cents yearly merit raise, I realized that I would have to do some cutting back.

Lowering my thermostat was no option. It didn’t go above 62 degrees last winter. I line-dry my laundry. I traded my 4×4 for a small car to get better gas mileage. To afford that car, I’ve had to take on a second job. I don’t travel on vacations. I shop clearance racks and I do all my errands in one trip. What else can people do?

This oil situation has been brewing for years … no, decades.

Where is the leadership? Sitting in warm mansions, flying private jets, going to spas?

How can they sleep at night?

They’ve allowed good-paying jobs to be shipped overseas, leaving mostly menial service jobs for Americans.

Unless politians are truly willing to work in the best interest of Americans, they should be fired.

People need to band together. The American dream seems to have turned into a nightmare for too many. People are losing their homes, yet we are told oil companies are making billions.

Do I feel better? No!

I’ll feel better when I see positive action taken.

Do I have suggestions? You bet I do: clean renewable energy! I’m a firm believer in wind and solar power.

Think of the jobs that could generate for Americans

Charlotte Larue, Greene