Sedona, AZ (June 16, 2008) - Businessman, author and candidate for US Congress in Arizona's 1st congressional district, Brent Maupin, called reports that Saudi Arabia will increase oil production, "A short term relief that may, for a while, make us all feel better. However, because of the overall increase in world's demand for oil this is just another band aid."

According to published news reports the UN Secretary General said Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, "...is willing to do what he can to (bring) the price of oil to adequate levels," after a meeting with the King.

Speaking of the reports that the Saudis are willing to produce more oil to help relieve record high prices Brent Maupin said, "It's a short term fix at most. With the problems we face in the Middle East we need to get off of foreign oil and become energy independent. This is America and we need to start controlling our own destiny rather than allowing the OPEC cartel to hold our economy hostage."

Maupin added. "Alternative energies offer long term promises while short term solutions include seriously investigating environmentally sound oil shale and tar sands extraction, as well as more domestic drilling with the proper environmental safeguards in place. This is the answer to bringing our men and women in uniform home from Iraq as soon as possible"

"Oil prices are only one piece of the pie of our country's failed policies, although it does serve to awaken the silent majority," We are darn mad and ready to do something about it." Maupin, who is running as an independent continued, "The problems that this nation faces can only be resolved when the people of this nation begin to look at themselves as citizens. We have become far too complacent with our elected officials and until now have chosen to not get involved in our government."

"We currently have leaders that tell us, as in the case of 911, that when we have a national crisis we are to go out and buy more ‘stuff.' It is clear to me that the leaders of this country have failed us, as that was the exact opposite of what we must do as a nation," Maupin said.

"We must look within ourselves. We have allowed the flashy television ads to persuade us into the belief that we find happiness and fulfillment in making frivolous purchases, yet the pleasure of making the purchases is gone soon after we make it," Maupin added. "Too many of today's leaders are as shallow as the purchases themselves, for their words come and go and have no depth as they are not able to see the greater picture."

"Too often I hear the hearts and souls of the people of this nation cry out, yet often we are too busy to respond. The answer to resolving the problems of this nation starts with learning to care for ourselves on a deeper level a little more. From here we begin to learn the greater values of life and to then become better citizens. From the ranks of these citizens we will then elect officials who are incorruptible and bring with them the highest level of personal integrity. It is from this place that partisan politics will not exist and it is from this place that real solutions for all of America's problems are found, including those surrounding our energy crisis," Maupin stated.

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Brent Maupin is a business owner, civil engineer and architect, author, singer and songwriter and won a battle with cancer that doctors said could not be beaten. He is a father of two and has been a resident of northern Arizona for over 15 years. For more information please visit http://www.winwithmaupin.com/.

Paid for by Brent Maupin for Congress, PO Box 21032, Sedona, AZ 86341