"Price gouging? Who? Us?"

While Americans—and good folks around the world—have been digging deep into their pockets to help the victims of Katrina, a hand full of folks in the energy industry sopped up massive profits.

A recent study by University of Wisconsin economist Don Nichols found that crude oil would have to cost $95 a barrel to justify a $3 price at the pump. However, the price of crude never exceeded a price in the very low 70s. And it has been holding at around $65 a barrel since the general public cried ouch! when gas prices climbed above the $3 mark.

Somebody along the pipeline from the oil fields to your gas tank has been making a killing on the backs of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people's deaths.

And this time we can't blame OPEC. The price at the pumps bringing the oil out of the ground has remained below a level justifying the high price you pay at the pump putting gas into your car. The Saudi's in fact have even pledged to substantially increase the amount of oil being produced in order to off set increased demands from over seas.

Gas station owners have denied that they are gouging at their pumps, being forthcoming about the prices they are paying their suppliers. Evidently someone else along the supply line is sucking up the extravagant profits. Could it be the seven darlings who are the primary providers, those same seven who in the 1970s were found to be in collusion?

Oh, yes, Bush/Cheney live inside the same skin as the oil companies. So don't be shocked when we finally learn that they felt perfectly comfortable explointing the situation. They bought this White House, whether fairly or otherwise, and they can do whatever you let them get away with. Now let us pray …