So much for thoughtful responses, I guess. With all due respect, you have so far failed to substantively address the issue and have only been reciting the typical thoughtless remarks that I expect to hear from liberals, not conservatives. Have you actually taken the time to think any of this through?
You think that the speculators are “only” middlemen, and that their activities have no long term effect on the price of oil.
If that were true, then in the long term, speculators, as a group, would gain nothing, and lose nothing. Obviously the speculation has been going on for years, and has attracted many well-heeled players. Do you really believe they are in it purely for the sport?
As for my remark to Todd, he asked me where they store the oil. Please...let’s not presume our opponents are that stupid.