Biskit, that's awful, don't know what to say other than best wishes -- didn't know much about this, except of course the bit about fuel prices. I remember wondering last fall about a news story predicting heating oil shortages because refiners were at capacity on diesel production, it sounded a bit fishy (if I recall, diesel and heating oil are basically the same thing except for the tax rates, heating oil is dyed so truckers can't buy it at the lower tax rate -- somebody correct me if that's wrong). And now this year diesel prices skyrocket.

Writing your politicians and the regulatory agencies can help, if there's a huge, organized protest, but it is slow. The organic food standard is one example -- in '97 the USDA got about 275,000 letters protesting the idiotic proposed organic certification rules. That did have an effect, but it took until March of this year to get the revised rules. Things are getting better, the original USDA rules allowed irradiated GM produce grown with sewage sludge to be labeled "organic" (guess whose idea that was), and that part seems to be off the table for now. Still being worked out is whether organic farmers will finally be eligible for federal crop insurance, etc. -- it's an ongoing process, you can bet the agribusiness lobbyists are working their butts off right now to undermine any progress we make, it's never really over.

Biskit, I know writing letters and waiting don't do much for you right now -- hope things work out for you, wish you the best.

lot of good points here, gotta take a break here and sort them out...