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Pretty much explains what really drives politics in general.

I remember the S&L scandal a few years ago and how conveniently the FDIC, or whichever government entity, closed the doors to keep the public from making 'runs'.

In the meantime, seems as in a few cases, the commercial investors and the wealthy with those certain institutions, somehow were able to complete their 'runs' before the info was leaked and, therefore, leaving the public (taxpayers) holding the bag as the Feds bailed out the numerous institutions with the taxpayers monies.

IMHO, it was a simple political maneuver by large investors to take advantage of existing regulations, and once the general public found out about the commercial abuses of these institutions, the jig was up, the managers and the rich business associates involved with 'their investments' were the ones that made off the loot, courtesy of Joe & Josephine Taxpayer.

With the House of Morgan financing the merger deal of US Steel at S1.4 billion in 1901, with a total US GDP of only $20 billion, well, that's a hell of a lot of 'political influence' and power, notwithstanding many global scenarios today with only the total dollars being greater.

I find it interesting the hammering out of the deal of US Steel merger(s), the 'Aldrich Plan' at a secret meeting of Rockefeller, Morgan, Aldrich, Kuhn, and Loeb, and was held in secret on Jekyll Is., GA. Some similarity to the Bilderberg Society and its biannual or annual 'exclusive meetings'.

I do not doubt that for one moment that the current (unexplainable) cost of a barrel of crude and resulting gasoline is a conspiracy to 'gather' cash for the next round of 'investments' in a predetermined sector of the global economy and a undisclosed continent. Lately, that's been China and India. It also goes hand in hand with a repayment of political favor to the oil industry from which 'W' and his family and various associates are tied heavily with that industry.

I always find it amusing that some folk tell me I'm a paranoid conspiracy theorist. I ask the "Really?" Then I ask them to equivocate the overall global (US too) increase in population, global & national increase of oil demand, the existing inflation rates before Katrina, increase in per capita incomes, and OPEC's current level of production. Basically, just look at those percentage increases, that's all. Then I ask them to explain the 54% increase in the price of a barrel of oil compared to those other numbers over a 6 years.

Guess what? They can't. Even oil industry spokesmen have tip part of their hand in that they say 30% of the current cost of the barrel has been driven by market speculators.

Well, then whose doing the speculating you reckon? I'd say the very wealthy, in particular, OPEC members with the profits they've made from the consumers, not to mention China. Pretty neat to ensure capital growth, capital apreservation, macro economic control and manipulation, and cudly political influence like the old days in banking in a way except the info and monies moves a whole lot faster today.

I am still amazed at the concept of 'hedge' funds and their derivatives. I always viewed a hedge as a means to keep your neighbor separate from yourself?