Speculators are a symptom of the problem, not the problem. Speculators can only profit in a market that has inelastic of supply.
By clinging to our pathetic 1970s era Energy policy of "conservation, not consumption" we have allowed the supply in the Oil market to get so inelastic the Future traders can game it. Fix the supply problem and you fix the speculation problem.
But I know, too difficult for the Dincon whiners around here to grasp that complex a notion.
Thanks, there's a lot of just plain old common sense in all that.
NO, I have no problem with people buying and selling oil, the way to fix it is for people to pay for what they buy at the close of business, and have a set date of delivery with fright prepaid. No problem, the market will function properly. You buy it, you pay for it, you take delivery, that is the way most business transactions are done. When you have ownership and a product to sell you can sell it from your inventory.