When we put 15 gallons of gasoline in our car and are confronted with the $65 charge, we bitch but we pay. We may have to sacrifice on some non-essential commodity tomorrow, but we figure it out. Life goes on.

But are the families living in the northern states ready for the real sticker shock coming to them in the mid-October through mid April time frame? Probably not, as they worry about how to deal with the inflation-driven high prices for most of the essential goods needed to maintain a household, as well as that $4.50 + per gallon cost of gasoline needed to get us where we have to go.

Beginning in October, most homeowners will have to deal with the high price of home heating oil. If you use between 800 and 1,000 gallons of fuel oil to heat your home over the six months of winter weather, expect to be prepared to spend at least $4,000 to $5,000, if you can negotiate a $5 per gallon price from your fuel supplier. With quarterly payments spread over the heating season, that means we homeowners have to come up with $1,000 to $1,250 each time a payment is due about every six weeks. What sacrifices will be needed to pay that amount. More sacrifice than most of us are prepared to make!

How the heck did we get here in just about a one-year time frame? What do our elected federal officials, who create energy policy, that drives the cost of oil, say about this? Here is what I hear:

It is the fault of those profit-driven oil companies!

It is Putin’s fault!

It is Trump and his MAGA's fault!

Oil is a global commodity and there is nothing we can do about it!

It is the new green deal driven by a need to combat climate change!

We are going through an incredible transition!

That is what I hear. All excuses! No accountability! No personal responsibility. And worse — No solution to alter and change the situation for the future by anyone in charge.

So, if you can live with the current cost of gasoline and fuel oil, continue to support those political leaders at the federal level who have allowed this to happen. If you want to see change, then send every one of those officials a strong message on Election Day and a one-way ticket home.

We can do much much better!

The writer is a resident of Old Lyme.