Look, oil is a cyclical industry. When prices are down, and the oil companies are laying people off left and right, nobody feels bad for them and suggests that people should pay more at the pump. Nobody, including the oil companies, thought that oil would be this high now, they are making a lot of money, but the profits will come down as that money is reinvested at much higher costs.
Like I said, I have no problem with free market profits.
But cartels, deals, schemes, price controls, etc....no matter who messes with the market for whatever reason....are not an indication of a free market.
My guts tell me something is being manipulated BEYOND the cartel (which we already know makes this a non-Free market.)