Do Politicians occupy a parallel universe?

Science-fiction writers often create a situation in which several parallel universes exist, often with comical results. The TV series Red Dwarf, for example, makes great fun of having the characters encounter their past and future selves, sometimes simultaneously. And the grandaddy of all such stories might be L. Neil Smith's novel, The Probability Broach, in which one character keeps crossing back and forth between two such universes in search of the solution to something troubling him.

In short, this is how I feel whenever I write directly to a politician, which I will admit is rather often.

Last month I received an e-newsletter from Elijah Cummings, the US Representative for the district in which I live. In the self-important tone typical of such missals, Cummings expressed great concern for "the environment," and our need to "reduce our dependence on foreign oil."

I composed and sent a nice, detailed letter explaining why increasing the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards would only siphon engineering money and talent away from the development of a workable alternative fuel or new means of propulsion. It took some work and research. You can read it here.

Mr. Cummings sent me a "canned" response that didn't address a single point I had mentioned. Worst of all, he addresses me as "Dear Stan." Now, in my experience and opinion, if you use someone's first name in this sort of situation, you are condescending to him. In the Jim Crow years, black people were often subjected to this treatment, and Representative Cummings should know better. (There's a great story about a Lutheran preacher in the deep south who sermonized about the accomplishments of Martin Luther, only to be threatened by the local good ole boys, who assumed he was speaking of Martin Luther King.)

Anyways, this was what Cummings wrote:

Dear Stan :

Thank you for contacting me regarding the skyrocketing price of gasoline. It is an important subject to me and I appreciate learning your thoughts.

As you know all too well , Americans are paying the hig hest gasoline prices in history, even when adjusted for inflation. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average cost for gas in Baltimore is $3.12 per gallon, compared to $2.98 last year. Nationwide, families are paying $3.22 a gallon on average for gas - more than double the cost of gas since the day President Bush took office in January 2001. Last year, families paid $1,000 more on average for gasoline than in 2001.

While families are struggling to adjust their budgets, oil companies continue to prosper. The six largest oil companies announced a combined total of $30 billion in profits for the first quarter of 2007. This is on top of the $125 billion in record profits they made in 2006.

I am committed to easing the burden of significantly high oil and gas prices. With my full support, the House passed the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007, H.R. 2264, o n May 22, 2007, to authorize the Justice Department to take legal action against state-controlled entities of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that participate in conspiracies to limit the supply or fix the price of oil. Nations or organizations that limit oil supplies can artificially inflate the cost of gas and hurt American consumers and this bill is a first step in holding these countries and organizations accountable.

Then, in my capacity as a Member of the Joint Economic Committee, I participated in a May 23 hearing that examined whether the oil industry's market structure is responsible for sky-high gas prices. During this hearing, I questioned key oil industry experts regarding the lack of adequate refineries, the need for alternative fuel resources, and the need for increased competition in the oil industry.

I also joined the House that same day in approving the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act, H.R. 1252, which would give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate and punish companies that artificially inflate the price of gas. The bill, which I co sponsored, sets criminal penalties for price gouging and permits states to bring lawsuits against wholesalers or retailers who engage in such practices.

Sadly, while a bipartisan majority in Congress supports these bills, President Bush has threatened to veto both H.R. 2264 and H.R. 1252. I will continue to work with my colleagues to urge President Bush to reconsider. In the meantime, the Democratic majority-led Congress has already voted to roll back $14 billion in taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil companies and reinvest the money in clean, alternative fuels, renewable energy and energy efficiency by passing the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 , H.R. 6, on January 22, 2007 .

The leadership of the House of Representative is currently developing an Independence Day package to boldly address energy independence and global warming by rapidly expanding the production of clean, alternative fuels and increasing energy efficiency, which will help protect our environment and bring down the cost of fuel for American consumers. Please know that I will continue to support legislation such as this that reduces our dependence on foreign oil while taking steps toward improving the environment. I will also continue to take your views into consideration as we debate these important issues .

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I feel cheated. So my response to him was:

tags: cummings  congress  cafe  automobiles  

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