Oil prices drive up food costs

WASHINGTON – Gas prices might actually be dropping at the pump, but higher energy prices are pushing food costs through the roof, according to the Siena Research Institute.

That's one more reason to keep Washington's feet to the fire on repealing oil-drilling bans, says WND Editor Joseph Farah, who stepped outside his comfort zone as a journalist and launched an unprecedented campaign to get Congress to act before adjournment at the end of September.

Both houses took a recess last week for the month of August, but Republican members of the House of Representatives stayed on the floor to protest inaction on drilling by Democratic leaders.

According to the Siena report, concerns by New Yorkers about grocery bills rose 9 percent from June, with 81 percent saying they feel the effects of higher costs. More than 60 percent of state residents expect food prices to increase over the next six months, while only 8 percent anticipate a decrease.

"Make no mistake about it," says Farah, "this is still a petroleum-based economy and rising prices for every other commodity are directly tied to skyrocketing energy costs. You need to let your representatives and senators know they can run but they can't hide. Oil prices come down as a direct result of greater supplies. It's time for America to start drilling again. You need to let them know."

Farah's campaign was energized last week when Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said in a campaign speech America could save as much oil by properly inflating its tires than it could from increased production.

"There are things you can do individually, though, to save energy," Obama said. "Making sure your tires are properly inflated – simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they're talking about getting off drilling – if everybody was just inflating their tires? And getting regular tune-ups? You'd actually save just as much!"

Oil has doubled in price over the past year, triggering inflation and pinching U.S. consumers who are dealing with a depressed housing market, job uncertainty and soaring food costs.

Farah is calling on Americans to flood Congress with e-mails, phone calls, letters and text messages demanding action that can lead the country in the direction of energy independence. Those communications can be directed to home district offices during the recess.

Farah's plan is simple: "I want to bring Congress to its knees," he says. "I want to melt down their phones. I want to flood their e-mail boxes. I want to hold them as political hostages. The ransom demand is to unleash the free market to begin exploring and pumping domestic crude oil and getting it to market as fast as possible. We've got two months days to make our voices heard. Let's make history by bringing this recalcitrant body of elitists into compliance with the will of the people and the rule of law."

Farah says it's a national emergency and needs to be treated as such.

Farah says he is convinced Congress will act only if the people steamroll members into action. He points to the way the Dubai port deal and amnesty for illegal aliens disguised as so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" were killed by popular uprisings in recent years.

"We can make this happen, again," he says. "But this time, we won't just be stopping something bad from happening. We will be doing something that is very good for the country – something that will improve the lives of all of us, something that will improve national security, something vital for the future of the nation."