In the early 80s, refinery capacity exceeded demand by about 15 percent. Producers could stabilize prices by deferring maintenance or using unused capacity. Instead, they agreed not to build any new refineries until the U.S. government agreed to eliminate EPA regulations.

In the 20 years since, the effects have been predictable and obvious demand caught up to capacity in 1999 and ever since speculation has lead to huge price spikes any time that crude oil supplies are disrupted or gasoline inventories fall.

Why is anyone surprised? Why does anyone have to ask “Who’s getting rich”? The U.S. oil companies break their profits record every year. The March and August price spikes reflect the pre-war speculation that crude oil supplies would be disrupted and the post-war disappointment that Iraq could not increase output to the 12 million barrels a day that the Iraqi National Congress promised in April. But this and the half dozen different explanations of the spikes are just noise on the fundamental reason for out of control energy prices.

So let Sen. Susan Collins spin her wheels investigating the recent run-up in prices. Until she takes on the energy industry and their traitorous decisions to loot the economy and destroy the environment and faces down her dear friend, President George Bush, nothing will happen to benefit average Mainers. Or put another way, not until President Bush is back in Crawford shoveling manure in private instead of in public will average Mainers get a fair deal.

Jon Albrecht, Dixfield