An Open Letter to Members of Congress
Posted: Saturday, April 30, 2011
by Richard Walrath
Articles and Answers.com
It doesn't matter if you're in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, or if you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, the people of the U.S. need your help now.The latest Associated Press count is 339 dead [1] from the "worst twisters since 1925"[2] that hit seven southern states. Alabama suffered the deadliest tornado with 248 dead, followed by Mississippi – 34, Tennessee – 34, Georgia – 15, Virginia – 5, Louisiana – 2, and Kentucky – 1. NOAA estimated there were a total of 211 tornadoes on April 27 through April 28, 2011.
Each and every year U.S. oil and gas companies receive $4 billion dollars in subsidies from the American taxpayer.
In an act of decency, as Americans, please join together to end the $4 billion subsidy for oil and gas companies and use this money to help the people in the states suffering from the worst series of tornadoes in 86 years.
The folks in these seven states have had their homes, their families and their lives torn apart. In addition to the dead, there are thousands that were injured. Oil companies will never miss the $4 billion and with gasoline prices well over $4/gallon they'll soon recoup the $4 billion dollar loss.
Whether the funds are used to help those hurt most by the violent weather conditions of this past week or help other Americans in need, eliminating the subsidies to oil and gas companies is the right thing to do.
[1] http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SEVERE_WEATHER?SITE=INKEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
[2] On March 18, 1925, 747 people were killed in a series of tornadoes, including 695 killed in the "Tri-state tornado. http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php
© 2011 Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yes, I don't see how the wealthy can live with themselves with all who are in need of help. Not only in this country but throughout the world.Thank you for your comment. We need Open Letters from
everybody. For oil companies to be pocketing $4 billion in sub-
sidies while we are paying over $4 a gallon for gasoline is just
plain wrong. Congress should act and act now.Thank you, David, for your comment. WE need a lot of Open
Letters on this subject. There's a chance we might even be
heard on this one.
I agree with you, and I've already sent my own letter. Unfortunately the Texas representatives in Congress are even more beholden to the big oil companies.Thank you, Bruce for your comment, and for writing your own letter. We need lots of people to write letters on this one.
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