AMEN X 10,000
I'd like 2C speculators put up 50% of their "bids" IN CASH as well. AND require those people TO ACTUALLY TAKE DELIVERY OF THE OIL THEY "BID" ON! What a concept!
Only thing Newt & I pbly might not see eye to eye on is using CLEAN BURN COAL to generate power, convert to vehicle fuel, etc. After all, we have more coal here than there is anywhere else in the world. So, for some to say, "Oh, No! No! No! We can't USE it because of global warming blah, blah, blah", is just ridiculous. THAT's as bad as saying we can't DRILL FOR OIL anywhere in this country. (Regardless, I'd prefer to use coal and 'meebe' cough a little bit than go nuke and glow in the dark. But, 'mebbe' that's just me.) (And pls don't gimme the ol' argument, "nuke tech is MUCH safer now", etc. WE'D STILL HAVE THE NUKE WASTE. One word: HANFORD. Four more words, Chernobyl...Three Mile Island)
Regardless, as I stated a couple months back on some thread or another 'round here, I think OPEC, et al, have finally shot themselves in BOTH feet. Their die is cast. Alternative fuels/power sources WILL be the big thing now. I just cannot see "the powers that be" - OR CONSUMERS - lessoning the pressure to develope 'same. THIS TIME even the dullest amongst us understands what's at stake if we don't get with the program here...