I agree with you in principle, Steve, as regards the title companies and VM's; however the oil companies have already been investigated numerous times, and it was found that no "price gouging" was taking place.

The high energy prices we are seeing now are more a result of the fact that we haven't built a new refinery in the US in over twenty years.  You can't run aging refineries at almost 90-95% capacity without incurring some increased costs, which are almost inevitably passed on.

The record profits the oil companies are enjoying can be attributed to new emerging markets such as Communist China, which is second only to the United States in oil consumption.  Makes me wish I'd bought into some oil company stocks a few years back.

Regards,
Scott Perry