OPEC, heeding the wishes and veiled threats of Saudi Arabia (which finally stepped up to the plate after much dithering), has decided to raise oil output.

This should grant us some relief in gas prices in a few weeks, though part of that is driven by quivering oil execs afraid the spread of democracy might lead to tumult that would cut off some of their supply.

It never hurts to jack up prices ahead of disaster, you know.