Governments are Beginning to Realize the Dangers of High Fuel Prices

In a move which seems to point towards key governments realizing that continued oil price increases will deflate the minimal improvement and perhaps derail the entire global recovery.  MSNBC posted an article this morning pointing out that it is expected the US will request that Great Britain release strategic reserves of oil in tandem with the US to stem the incredible increase.  It is also expected the US will request the same from other countries, although it is pointed out that many countries disagree with the release and site it should only be used in conjunction with a severe supply disruption.
Ok, while this seems like a good thing, we must understand that the increase in price is based on greedy speculators.  These folks assume the summer months will increase demand in the US and around the northern hemisphere.  They also assume that the Iranian embargo will greatly cut supplies.  Again I point towards price gouging, but economists repeatedly state their is none.  I think the big oil has the economists in their back pocket. 
Regardless of their reasoning, be it political or just because they are good guys, The release of strategic reserves will ultimately drop the prices for a minute or two.  As there is only so much in reserve, it will only hasten continued increase in prices based around greed.  I think it is time we consider price control and punishment for those who use greed tactics. 
The amazing thing is, all of these companies, Chevron, BP, etc. all try to deflate the anger by publishing documents which show us how the price of gasoline is affected and why it is costing so much.  Yet they never say how much profit they bring in annually.  If oil costs more, they can disguise their greed by inching the prices up, and then when the oil price falls they can lower the price of gasoline per gallon at a much slower rate, ensuring their increase in profits regardless of the situation.  It is ridiculous for a fuel company to bring in Billions of dollars in PROFIT annually.  Oh sure, they are going to say that they put it back into research and the sort, but when their CEO makes $2 Million in cash and another $20 Million in stocks and bonuses (this is 2008 by the way) it begs to question how much of that profit is steered into executives?  We know these numbers are inaccurate and blurred as well so that the public can't quite get a grip on the reality of the situation. 
Bottom line is this, we can release the strategic reserves to give us a temporary relief at the  pump, but if we don't start regulating what these companies can charge, and do something as Radical as taking oil off the open trading market, then we will always be subject to this insane price for oil. 
Hell, maybe I should start using fermented seaweed instead.