WDAM Viewpoint- Gas Prices - WDAM.COM - TV 7 - News, Weather and Sports

Well, it's that time of year again.  The days are getting longer and warmer.  Flowers are beginning to bloom and grass is getting green.  And…..gas prices are rising.  Rising earlier than usual and the increases are incredible.  Just in time for spring and summer vacations.  Prognostications of 5-dollars a gallon and even more are being bantered about.  All the while one gets the feeling that, despite all the usual excuses, we are getting ripped off and somebody up there is just allowing it all to happen with a wink, a nod, and…an agenda.  This week Seven On Your Side interviewed the Senior Economic Adviser with the American Petroleum Institute who was speaking in Hattiesburg.  Rayola Dougher (Dew-er) stated that, "Within a dozen years, between ourselves and what we can get from Canada and our bio fuels, we could be fairly self sufficient in the liquid fuel needs.  We'd have extra supply for the global market.  It would put downward pressure on prices."  You know folks, the North American Continent and surrounding waters sit on top of an ocean of oil and natural gas.  By all means we should be putting massive efforts into coming up with a replenishable energy source…we could do something about oil and gas prices now if the government would take the steps to tap into the oil we have here at home instead of depending on foreign sources.  That is what makes it all the more inexcusable to have to shell out the kind of money we have to just to keep our vehicles running.  Let us know what you think.