>Hilmar,
>
>So you think it's out of control.
>
>But then why would prices go up UNLESS someone is making a nice buck on this?
>
>Someone *IS* making a nice buck! And it looks like it's the same person who sets the price. When you have a captive market - which is where things are now with oil - people HAVE TO BUY. The law of supply and demand is not operative in such cases, but it's awfully handy to make it look like it is the cause.
>
>something definitely stinks. I still guess it comes down to WHO is setting the price and what THEY get out of the price.

Captive market is the key. When did addicts complain about the price? They'll buy their fix no matter what the price, and will only complain if there's a shortage.

And the set of "oil junkie" countries is easy to enumerate.