[freedomfiter2]

Speculators provide the liquidity that allows producers and processors to trade efficiently.

Yes, but at the cost of greater volativity and higher prices to the consumer.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Yes, but at the cost of greater volativity [sic]

You think volatility is high now, drive out the speculators and see what happens.

and higher prices to the consumer.

How do you figure?

[SAJ]

Absolute rubbish. You apparently assume that all specs are longs. In energy mkts right now, this isn't even true. The big specs are hugely long, but the small specs are short-to-flat.

And bet your life, when this bubble pops -- which it will --, the big specs will get short, short, short.

And prices will collapse, just as they always do after parabolic bull mkts.

Unless, of course, the Regress do something sufficiently stupid to damage yet further the ability of the US to produce energy.