Oil prices expected to rise above $200 per barrel

What's that expert's track record? I mean actual, not self- proclaimed, and over the long term (10-20+ years)?

Predictions, except those based directly on demographic trends or almost purely on science, haven't been trustworthy.

Because US energy policy was changed almost 30 years ago, and the free market has spoken.

No, because everyone agreed to the status quo and did nothing.

I love it when people think people have more power then the Universe. When the cooling starts, 'Global Warming' will be a fart in the wind.

AlGore's experts, maybe.

All in all, about the same as yours.

Sounds good to me. How much is 5 tons of coal?

No, I prefer chilled monkey brain...

Actually, anything's possible with the price of oil, since the price is disconnected from reality. I wonder how many people realize that speculators can make money when certain investments go DOWN as well as UP.

And what is wrong with that?

Nothing, as long as it doesn't affect anyone who doesn't want to be part of the game. You know that. Do I have to explain it again?

You didn't explain it the first time.

Jeff

Sure I did. But, like many people, you think hedge funds are somehow an example of the "free enterprise system" that's entitled to affect oil prices. That is obviously nonsense. There's a big difference between that, and your right to start any legal business you like.

Why is it nonsense? The hedge funds also help create the market system that gets capital to finance purchases of things like oil rigs and tankers.

Please provide that the evidence that the hedge funds are actually markedly affecting the price of oil and provide a better alternative.

While I don't like the capital markets in general, without the capital markets we would be all be farming for our own food.

In another message, I asked you if you thought the effect of hedge funds on oil prices was ZERO. You never answered the question. Now, we can't continue without that answer. Is their effect ZERO?

If you say NO, please provide your estimate of their effect.

I know of no data that provides for an accurate estimate. The oil companies and oil producing nations say the speculators are causing oil to go up, but I don't know of any independent analysis that supports this.

Jeff

Then the discussion is over.

I think not. At least Scott served his country. God only knows what Ed Syphilis has done. He sounds like the typical Leftwingnut most of the time.

Charles the Curmudgeon Slightly to the right of Ronald Reagan

Serving in the military does not automatically grant someone with intelligence, or any special privileges in terms of being able to comment on the affairs of the nation.

How? Do you get fitted with a special kind of brain when you put on a uniform? Of course not.

You have some nerve saying "we". You learned to field strip a Smith-Corona.

A real warrior and his brother, a Navy chaplain, told me it wasn't a good idea at that particular moment in history.