Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Covertly raise gas prices to influence election

ASU2003 · 05-14-2011, 03:30 PM

I realize that gas prices can go up and down based on a lot of factors due to supply, perceived supply problems, money devaluation, speculators, increased demand...but I feel that there is a large group of people with a lot on money that don't like when environmental issues get in their way, or Presidents that tax them and fund green energy programs...

However, I want to ask you all if it would be possible for the right group of speculators to come together and buy oil in unison. While at the same time it just so happens that a few refineries will need to be shutdown for 'maintenance'. And a bunch of oil rig workers decide to take a few vacation days.

The speculators would be the biggest influencer. It might start with them warning the airlines, transport, and factories to get their futures contracts in order for the next few months. Then they would go on CNBC, write an op-ed in the Wall St Journal, and talk on Fox Business and get small investors to buy into oil because it is going up.

Then since they have billions of dollars, control of 401k plans and individual accounts, and are in charge of the entire oil economy. I'm sure they could come up with $200 million each day for a month (October) and double or triple the price.

Would this backfire on them? Or would people say that the current administration did nothing to stop it? Would the economy collapse in that time enough to say that we need a different plan that someone else has? Would renewable energy actually take off (only to get crushed by the flood of supply once this economic procedure was done?) Are there any laws preventing this? And, is there any possibility that something like this is happening now (or at the end of Bush's term) in order to cause problems with the economy?

05-14-2011, 03:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	Covertly raise gas prices to influence election I realize that gas prices can go up and down based on a lot of factors due to supply, perceived supply problems, money devaluation, speculators, increased demand...but I feel that there is a large group of people with a lot on money that don't like when environmental issues get in their way, or Presidents that tax them and fund green energy programs... However, I want to ask you all if it would be possible for the right group of speculators to come together and buy oil in unison. While at the same time it just so happens that a few refineries will need to be shutdown for 'maintenance'. And a bunch of oil rig workers decide to take a few vacation days. The speculators would be the biggest influencer. It might start with them warning the airlines, transport, and factories to get their futures contracts in order for the next few months. Then they would go on CNBC, write an op-ed in the Wall St Journal, and talk on Fox Business and get small investors to buy into oil because it is going up. Then since they have billions of dollars, control of 401k plans and individual accounts, and are in charge of the entire oil economy. I'm sure they could come up with $200 million each day for a month (October) and double or triple the price. Would this backfire on them? Or would people say that the current administration did nothing to stop it? Would the economy collapse in that time enough to say that we need a different plan that someone else has? Would renewable energy actually take off (only to get crushed by the flood of supply once this economic procedure was done?) Are there any laws preventing this? And, is there any possibility that something like this is happening now (or at the end of Bush's term) in order to cause problems with the economy?