[paudio]

The decision on whether to allow off-shore drilling is utterly inconsequential to the matter of lowering gas prices.

This author either doesn't know or play down the future supply expectation. With a decision to drill now, people can expect that future supply will increase. Just see what happened when President Bush announced his lifting ban on off-shore drilling.

[colorado tanker]

This bunch of well-educated idiots knows squat about economics.

Futures markets influence the spot market and you're right a big factor in the market is anticipated future capacity. With prices this high and not justified by any shortages, future expectations are a huge factor.