When, oh when will a hotshot legal beagle or politician finally get on the ball with a monopoly-antitrust investigation or consumer protection legislation to regulate our current robber barons, big oil and OPEC?

Over 100 years ago, the United States had to break up monopolies in different industries and impose various business regulations.

When oil companies are making obscene profits, then everyone knows something is very wrong. The public shouldn't be the only one crying foul. It's time to tell Congress, the federal Justice Department, and state Attorney Generals to do something now!

Is it a monopoly, collusion or a violation of some old law? We won't know unless someone really investigates these companies.

Record obscene profits mean Joe-Q-Public is getting ripped off.

It doesn't help that OPEC is holding the world hostage by limiting oil production when the world is crying out for more. Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait ought to be paying us in oil for providing security to the Middle East.

Someone in the administration or Congress needs to remind OPEC that if they really hurt our economy, then we can withhold our military and other aid. Some people will even say just send all those Arab college students home.

Even if the oil company executives aren't in collusion, it is surely time to regulate this vital public industry. America regulates utilities such as gas, water and telephone companies and services such as the broadcast airwaves, airlines and health care.

So why not limit excessive executive salaries and perks plus obscene profits if they exceed boundaries like the state's usury limit?

Outrageous, sky high salaries and perks for the top administrators wouldn't be so bad if the executives shared the wealth with lot higher salaries and perks for the grunts who do the actual work. Or actually invested profits in developing more refining and production capacity.

If you agree, write this fine newspaper, call or write your state or federal legislator, or tell your local politician or business leader. Let's see some action before gas hits $10 a gallon, because $5 looks like it is just around the corner!

Keith Weber