In a recent column discussing our pain at the pump, I encouraged you to contact Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Because he serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee that had met with the big oil company executives, I thought maybe he could fill us in on what Congress was doing other than talking about the problem.

Not only did many of you send him letters, but you were thoughtful enough to forward me his response.

The good news is that he got back to you.

The bad news is that since we last talked about all of this, the price of gas has continued to climb.

Although I did read the entire response from the senator, I didn’t have to go any further than the second paragraph to find out where he stands on the real difficulty we’re having with oil, not only in this country, but all over the world.

Here’s what he wrote: “The problem of rising gas prices, while reaching new heights in recent months, is one of several sad legacies of seven long years of President Bush’s mismanagement of the economy.”

And whereas Whitehouse goes on to make his points about promoting renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, raising car fuel economy standards, etc., the underlying theme of his message was “I and my Democratic colleagues” want to do this but “the Bush Administration” doesn’t, and “Democratic efforts” would be helping all you consumers out there except they’re unfortunately being stymied by “the Republicans.”

He’s not alone, of course, when it comes to trying to place the blame. As oil prices rise to record levels, so do the accusations.

Last week at a global energy summit in Saudi Arabia, hundreds of experts and decision-makers from all over the world came together to look for answers to the worst oil crisis in decades. When all was said and done, they left with no resolution, no practical plan — in fact, no plan at all. And why was that? Apparently, they spent most of the meeting going back and forth on what is driving the prices so high. In other words, they were trying to place the blame.

In much the same way, our Congress has been holding hearings – 40 so far this year, no less – to hone in on the real culprit in this debacle. Should we blame the oil company executives with their gargantuan bonuses? How about OPEC? Speculators in the market? Tightening supply and burgeoning demand? The credit crisis? A weaker dollar? China?

Meanwhile, as the meetings and summits and endless debates continue, Americans, for the most part, are quietly going about their business as usual doing what Americans do best. We’re adjusting and adapting and innovating and changing. Granted, maybe we’d have preferred to leave things the way they were, but since that’s not happening, we’re moving forward. After all, some of the best creative thinking happens when we’ve got the proverbial gun to our heads.

According to a recent Gallup Poll, Americans are responding to gas prices in a variety of ways including staying home more, cutting back on vacations, consolidating errands, using public transportation, carpooling, and only driving when absolutely necessary. In direct and indirect ways, we’re tightening our belts, not going out to eat as frequently, not buying things we don’t need as much, doing things ourselves that we might have hired someone to do in the past.

This week, as our nation celebrates 232 years of independence, maybe it would be a good idea to remember the Americans who came before us and paved the way for all the opportunities we have today.

In that spirit, when it comes to the gas crisis, wouldn’t it be great if our leaders could stop pointing fingers and actually start lifting one for a change.

Rita Lussier can be reached at ReetsAL@aol.com or by mail c/o Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain Street, Providence, RI 02902.