Yikes! I'm glad I wasn't speculating on your commitment to freedom! I thought you "got it".
I'm sure you wouldn't like it if banks decided to raise interest rates to 50% because they can.
I wouldn't mind, it's their money. They can let it sit idle if they choose. No one will borrow money at 50% so they will get zero return. Quick way to go broke in the banking business.
Usury laws are antithetical to freedom. They are an abomination.
You expect reasonable speculation in any market, be it oil or wheat.
All speculation absent force or fraud is reasonable.
But when it becomes unreasonable, how do you correct it?
Name some "unreasonable" speculations.
I can't stop buying gas to drive to work,
Time to move? Time to car pool? Time to take a different form of transportation? Time to cut out that golf game? Time to buy hamburger instead of ground sirloin? Time to change priorities?
Time to consider what might happen to how people move about if oil is no longer an affordable option?
70 + $$$ a barrel. And I myself can afford gas at $10 a gallon if need be. And still eat prime rib. No need to move, or take (Gasp!) public transportation.
And believe me, driving a V8 vehicle to work these days (the alternative, a 4 cylinder commuter car, is unthinkable) is like paying 10$ a gallon... It cost $220 to fill up this morning.