Okay America, the price of oil is now $100 per barrel. The banker is offering you a chance to get out now with no major problems. Deal, or no deal? No deal you say? Okay, the next offer is $105 per barrel. But the banker is going to sweeten the deal. He says if you stop driving that gas-guzzling car, he'll knock the price back down to its pre-Hurricane Katrina levels. So I have to ask you, deal, or no deal? No deal again? Wow, you must love this stuff. Okay, the offer is now $110 per barrel, and you show no sign of reducing your demand for fuel. No, I'm sorry, you can't complain about the Chinese and Indians driving up the cost of fuel, they have just as much a right to use energy as the rest of us. And there's 300 million of us, and all of us want to live 30 minutes to an hour away from work, so that means a lot of oil to keep going. So once again, deal, or no deal? No deal? Wow. Okay, the final offer is $115 per barrel (for now). No, you can't blame the oil companies. I know your instinct is to accuse them of being greedy fatcats, but the fact is hydrocarbon prices are regulated by the laws of supply and demand. As long as you want to drive and use electricity, you're going to pay for it. This is a business, and they're providing you with the items you want. Stop watching those stupid Oscar-winning movies made by empty-headed movie stars that win awards from the Academy that pats them on the back for spewing far-left humbug, and just deal with your addiction. So, what's it going to be America? Deal, or no deal? –Stephen Payne, Editor, Oil and Gas Investor This Week; spayne@hartenergy.com