Fueled by frustration, "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" Facebook page expands to more than 630,000 fans in weeks

Contact: Matthew Faraci, Generation Opportunity, 202-997-1636

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2012 /Standard Newswire/ -- Generation Opportunity is announcing a gas prices petition for young Americans to tell President Obama and his administration to ease their restrictions on domestic energy exploration and open up more land and offshore for drilling in order to bring gas prices down long-term and ease the additional pressure gas prices are creating for Americans in this already tough economy.
 
The petition is being announced as the Facebook page "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" -- publicly rolled out on March 14, 2012 -- has added an incredible 230,000 new fans in just a few weeks, with a total of more than 630,000 fans. The page provides a forum for young Americans who have been hit hard by the rising cost of gasoline. 
 
"High gas prices serve as a one-two punch for young Americans when combined with the poor economy and historically high levels of unemployment. Millions of young Americans have been forced to seek out multiple part-time jobs just to make ends meet, and millions of others are trying to simply enter or fight to stay in the job market, so literally every dollar counts. Gas prices add an incredible burden to this overall picture and force Americans to make tough choices just to pay the bills. What is not fair is that young Americans are faced with fewer and fewer job opportunities, high gas prices, and long-term national debt that puts them at a disadvantage now and in the future. It is no surprise that thousands of young Americans are saying enough is enough," said Paul T. Conway, president of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Generation Opportunity's "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" online petition specifically highlights, that at the same time gas prices have skyrocketed over the last three years:

• Roughly 85% of federal land is off limits to drilling;
   
• New drilling leases on federal land available for exploration are down 44% from 2007/2008 to 2009/2010;
   
• Only 2% of our offshore is available for energy exploration with 98% now restricted from drilling.

It asks supporters to sign the petition to ask President Obama and his administration to ease their restrictions on domestic energy exploration and open up more land and offshore for drilling in order to bring gas prices down long-term and ease the additional pressure gas prices are creating for Americans in this already tough economy.
 
To go directly to the petition, please visit generationopportunity.org/demand-action-to-lower-gas-prices/ and also visit us on Facebook at "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High."
 
According to a 2011 poll commissioned by Generation Opportunity, 61 percent of young adults rated energy dependency among the top three national security issues facing the United States, along with national debt and indebtedness to foreign powers. In the same poll, 70 percent of young adults indicated they would increase the production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal.

Also, due to the poor economy, 77 percent of young Americans indicated they either have or will delay major life decisions as a result of the poor economy including decisions to start a family, have children, buy a home, and save for retirement. 

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and a highlighted result for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below:

Young Americans -- American Energy Dependency is Top National and Economic Security Issue:

• Greatest threats to national security: National Debt (62%), Energy Dependency (61%), and Indebtedness to Foreign Powers (50%).
   
• 70% would increase production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal.

Young Americans -- Delayed Dreams from a Poor Economy and the Lack of Opportunity:

• 77% of young people ages 18-29 either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
   
  • 44% delay buying a home;
     
  • 28% delay saving for retirement;
     
  • 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
     
  • 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
     
  • 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
     
  • 23% delay starting a family;
     
  • 18% delay getting married.

Young Americans -- Majority Disapprove of President Obama's Management of Youth Unemployment, Washington Out-of-Touch:

• Just 31% of 18 - 29 year-olds approve of President Obama's handling of youth unemployment.
   
• 69% say the current leadership in Washington fails to reflect the interests of the younger generation.
   
• 59% of overall Millennials agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization’s social media platforms -- "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," and "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook -- have amassed a total fan base of more than 3 million. All three pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here, and "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page -- Generación Oportunidad -- click here.