Speaking of Jeb Hensarling, he has an article up on National Review blasting the “Coaltion To Stop Oil Speculators,” a lobbying effort in Congress which is the brainchild of 12 major airlines. Here’s the key paragraph, delivering a dose of economic common sense:
The reality is that commodities investments are not based on finger-in-the-wind guessing; but on analyses of trends in supply and demand. If investors see trends pointing toward increasing world demand (skyrocketing demand from India and China) and constrained supply (restricting exploration for American energy, limiting government procurement of unconventional fuels from North America, and constraining American refinery capacity), they are likely to bet on price escalation. Conversely, an actual increase in supply would cause prices to fall.
UPDATE: NR link fixed. Sorry about that.
You can’t assume common sense will carry any weight to those predisposed to a contrary belief.
Your link is wrong, it goes to the Heritage Foundation, not National Review.
“an actual increase in supply would cause prices to fall. ”
…as would a decrease in demand…
Another look at the issue:
http://www.reason.com/news/show/127738.html
Apparently, when airlines buy oil futures on a bet that the prices will eventually go up, it’s good business practice, but when people who don’t happen to be the treasurers of airlines do the same thing, it’s “rampant speculation” that “upsets the natural relationship between supply and demand.”
I think we should plan to drill ANWR…just announcing it will drive prices down. Consumers will eventually adapt to other modes of transportation, but it will take 50 or so years.
The president’s speech was, when? Two weeks ago? And we’ve dropped 20 cents since.
The perception we are become independent either through new technologies or natural reserves will help the consumer.
Southwest Airlines = Brilliant.
Amanda, prices started to fall when GWB decided to negotiate with Iran instead of going to war with it.
Wick, did it? B/c of Iran alone? Or did the market top out? Or, or, or…
Sure, tensions abound in the Mid East, but when in the last 500 years haven’t they? The market gets the jitters over speculation (like Iran), but when since Ferdinand and Isabella did a reson NOT exist for similar turmoil, war and worry?
I think we need both conservation and excavation, and let the market be.