I was so surprised when I got a reply...

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..from one of the Senator's from my home state! See, I used this awesome thing Pyewacket found and sent a letter expressing my concerns on biofuel and I got this email today: "Dear Ms. (blanks out my own name) Thank you for contacting me regarding increasing energy costs. I share your concern regarding rising energy prices—the high cost of gasoline and home heating oil hurts Ohio families and businesses. Both gasoline prices and oil industry profits have skyrocketed since 2000. The average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline was about $1.46 in 2001, but today gas prices across the country are averaging over $3.00 a gallon and the price per barrel of oil is continuing to set record highs. And despite our nation’s weakening economy, oil company profits have climbed right along with prices. Exxon Mobil announced record annual profits of $40.6 billion in 2007—almost four times the company's 2002 profit. I am a cosponsor of legislation that severely penalizes those who gouge or otherwise charge excessively high gas prices and another bill that allows the Attorney General to sue oil cartels like OPEC trying to manipulate the price of oil. I have also called on the President to temporarily suspend additions to our nation’s nearly full strategic petroleum reserve. These additions take oil away from the marketplace, exacerbating the skyrocketing price of gas for the average consumer. The increased emphasis placed on next generation biofuels by this Congress will advance our nation’s energy independence by making our scarce oil supply go farther. As long as I am in the Senate, I will continue to work for responsible energy policies that protect the interests of Ohio consumers. Thank you again for sharing your concerns. Sincerely, Sherrod Brown" Isn't that awesome? A politician who's concerned enough to try to help us! I have no idea if their bill will get passed, but I hope to Goddess it does. The address had 'no-reply' in it, so I didn't send this, but I would've if I'd been able to: "Thank you so for your reply, that is indeed good news! And while I'm glad to hear that you will continue focusing on alternative fuels, which I think many will agree is probably the most responsible thing to do these days, I hope you'll also consider all the factors concerning different sorts of biofuels. Ethanol is now much more questionable than it was a few years ago, and it'd be good to know for certain if it negatively or positively affects the world's food market if it's ever decided one day that this fuel will be one of our main ones. But, from your reply, I'm sure you'll continue working hard...and all our faith goes with you, hopefully your efforts will be successful, and we'll all be thankful for them. Again, thanks so much for your reply!" I'm always seeing the potential bad in things, aren't I? lol. But as Pyewacket may recall, I believe I already expressed my concerns on Ethanol, but...yeah..this is still pretty cool. I knew some politicians, in congress, etc, have been appropriately freaking out, but I hadn't realized some of them had already figured out some solutions! Or a start for one anyway. Here's hoping that their efforts will work...and that people rally to support this effort...and that it's really in the right direction (goodness knows, they lie about things alot for their own interests).