Get to bottom line in probing gas prices

With gasoline prices higher than they've ever been, no doubt many people are thinking: "There ought to be an investigation!"

And, as history would suggest, their wishes will come true.

After all, every time gas prices have gone way up, members of Congress and state attorneys general have demanded answers from oil companies as to why they are making obscene profits while household and business budgets are being hammered by high fuel prices.

Just last week, Sen. Dick Durbin called on the Federal Trade Commission to probe the spike in diesel and jet fuel prices.

That's fine. Questions ought to be asked about why the cost of diesel and jet fuel is at a record high, financially pummeling the airline and trucking industries.

But what will happen? Yet another round of oil company executives being summoned to Washington to answer to suspicions of price gouging, only to have nothing come of these investigations? That has always been the case.

And it could very well be that there is no price gouging, that it's market forces, not market manipulation, behind gas nearing $4 per gallon. It's all about supply and demand. Indeed, that is the only fair conclusion that can be drawn so far. There has never been any widespread price gouging uncovered in these investigations.

Or maybe members of Congress prefer to ask questions highly hinting at price gouging but not really push for the answers. After all, some of that oil company profit is being pumped into congressional campaign coffers. Probe too deep and these members stand to lose money that comes in handy at re-election time. If that's the case, then these investigations are merely a vote-getting charade.

Or perhaps it's that suspicions of price gouging can't be acted on because federal energy investigators don't have the resources or the full authority they need to make definitive conclusions on whether we are being taken advantage of at the gas pump. If that's the case, then the consumers deserve an investigative system that has the money and legal might to conduct thorough, plausible probes.

And it would seem there could be weaknesses in the system set up to investigate allegations of gas price gouging. At least that is reflected in legislation being pushed by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which would ensure that "the federal government has the tools it needs to adequately respond to energy emergencies and prohibit price gouging -- with a priority on refineries and big oil companies."

But for once it would be nice if these gas price investigations ended with some clarity. No, there isn't price gouging, and leave us to accept, however begrudgingly and without lingering suspicions, that the facts back that those big oil company profits are being honestly earned. Or yes, there is price gouging, and put an end to it. Punish the oil companies and make them make it up to us. Or, we're not sure there is price gouging because we don't have all the tools to determine that, and fix it.

More finality and less bluster would sure be a welcome outcome of these probes.