Townhall.com :: Columns :: Windfall profits by Walter E. Williams

For those of you who think oil companies should "be held accountable" or "give back" their profits for the last few quarters, here's an explanation of how profits work in a supply and demand driven economy.

The short version is supply and demand, along with rising prices, help to bring supply to where a commodity is needed. Creating impediments to profit and supply side business only serve to create shortages and damage economic well being of a country, region or state.