"Gouging"? If you have something I want, I expect you'll go right ahead and charge me whatever you think you can get for it. That's called "capitalism" and I'm all for it.
Now, if you think I am in need of some help and you are willing to provide it, feel free to sell it to me at a reduced price. That's called "charity" and I'm all for it, too.
If you are smart..you own a lot of oil stock and actually like the higher pump prices.
That's called "capitalism" and I'm all for it.
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Me too. And maybe someday soon, I will buy a horse. That is part of capitalism too -- the ability to choose an alternative.
Once the world of science comes up with the next step in battery technology, the oil companies will be settling for less. What goes around, comes around in capitalism, as in all things in life :-)