[cynicom]

In most areas of commerce, supply and demand are in control.

However we are not speaking of widgets, we are speaking of the life blood of the world, in particular the United States.

Supply and demand keeps the widget makers in line. However oil affects everyone, immediately.

This fact allows a handful of people around the world to manipulate the market, thus supply and demand is skewed in their favor.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Still makes no sense.

Supply is controlled by producers (and governments) demand is controlled by consumers. Last month saw the greatest drop in consumer demand on record.

Contrary to popular opinion even demand for oil is subject to price elasticity.

There have always been relatively large corporations in the world economy. Before oil you had the East India Company, Railroad barons, Financiers with great power, Astor, the Rothschields, the Medici bankers, the Fuggers.

[ThinkDifferent]

This fact allows a handful of people around the world to manipulate the market, thus supply and demand is skewed in their favor.

If they have that much power, why hasn't gas always been $5/gallon?