US Oil Oligarchs

In one of the country's worst economic crisises, one wonders why the price of gasoline is rising. Since January 1st, the price has increased 22 %. Oh well, we promote capitalism and understand about supply and demand. But wait! In that same period of time the supply of crude increased 16%. Why then is not the cost of gasoline going down?

In the last run-up to $4 a gallon gasoline, the oil executives told us and congress that it was "supply and demand." We soon learned the unrealistic increase was a result of unregulated Wall Street types speculating in the futures market--nothing to do with supply and demand.

Now we are learning that this current 2009 increase, since it is contrary to the laws of supply and demand, is being artificially manipulated by the oil companies who have decreased the output of their refineries in order to drive the price higher.

Now that the Bush-Cheney oil oligarchs have been replaced in government, how long do we have to tolerate the machinations of big oil?