Price Gouging and collusion in the Oil Industry

I read an ariticle today (5/3/06) concerning gas prices in this country rising as a result of price gouging and collusion perpetuated by the oil compnies. Lets comment om gouging first. The price of gas has risen 80 cents where i live in Pennsylvania in the last 4 weeks. Not because of any crisis or anything like that, but because of the good weather we are experiencing and because ot the Easter holiday. Oil companies simply found a way to increase their profit by raising prices to an astronomical level. They aren't stupid they know people are going to travel in good weather and the holiday. Now, I have no problem with business's making a profit, that is the general idea, however, the oil comanpy executives tried to tell the American people the price increase was do to the modest increase in crude oil prices. Then, the news of record profits in the industry becomes public, showing the country what it is all about; PROFIT! Now, I have no problem with any company that profits from whatever it sells or manufactures, refines, or buys from someone else and sells, but don't under any circumstances tell me it's because a six dollar incease is going to force them to tighten their belts or go out of business! Especially when Pennsylvanians alone are paying 80 cents more per gallon! I would do the math but for anyone who reads this I'm pretty sure I don't have to.

Oil company execs are trying to tell us there is no collusion among them to drive prices of gas up. That is a bold faced lie! When the gas station in the middle of Main Street USA raises its prices 5 cents a gallon on a Tuesday morning and twenty minutes later the competing station down or up the street raises its prices 4 cents a gallon we have collusion! Think about it, as the price goes up consumer need stays the same. we buy gas, the same amount every week, only now, we spend 80 cents more per gallon whereever we go. The oil companies know this, So they raise prices to within a few cents of its competition. Thus we have COLLUSION!