Fill 'er UP

     Every time I fill the auto up with gasoline my eyes have scanned the price per gallon long before any gasoline has entered the tank.  No more do I get upset or even act surprised at the price  because the liquid that fuels our automobiles is in-part the result of forces beyond our control.

     The world's population is increasing and with the increase comes growth.  Fast growing economies such as China and India  are not the main factor in the record price of oil.  Speculators who buy and sell oil futures without ever taking physical possession of  the actual barrels of oil adds little value to the economy.  Their actions only drives up the cost of gasoline as they pursue financial gains  out of the pockets of the common man.  They should be banned from the worlds commodities exchanges.  I am not against commodities markets in general.  Farmers  sell crops on the exchange all the time as a way to ensure their harvest receives the best price but there is a huge difference between oil futures and orange juice futures.  If the price of orange juice goes through the roof we can always switch to apple juice but when the price of oil goes through the roof there is no switching.  Banning speculation in oil markets should be about fairness even when that fairness is at the expense of speculators. 

     The fundamentals of life will never change but remaining affordable for all is another question.  Fill 'er UP, yes I will.  No matter what the price on the pump says, life is too short and I'm too old to be ridding a bicycle.