Oil falls below $34 a barrel - Is this simply market forces at work, or something else?

I believe the price swings point to desperate traders seeking the right price. 

I recently heard a piece of information that could apply.. I heard it on CNN.  "the Enron Corp former employees/manipulators are the most sought after bodies on Wall Street now because they know how to play the system and get trading up"...this was in reference to the oil prices booming this past summer.  I wonder why I saw gasoline prices INCREASE 40 cents a gallon this week? 

I agree, and when they prove that the traders were manipulating the market, they should prosecute.

It will probably never happen and be very unpopular, but now is a good time to slap a nice big tax on to gas and use those proceeds for creating alternative energy solutions that will bring jobs and technology back to the US.

The amazing thing about gas prices....ONLY 7 CENTS gross is made from one barrel of oil for gasoline.

Stewart - I not sure what is going on with the barrel prices but is sure seems fishy.

Stewart, they will do anything to deep us from following through on reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Lull us to sleep and then break it off in us. It has been the pattern for over 30 years.

Jay

Why in the world do we need more government and more taxes?  More government and taxes are only going to hurt us in the end.  Here is an idea let the Free Market system work without government throwing a wrench in the work.  Government involvement has always been the problem. A great example is the Great Depression with government involvement we seen a it last twice as long as it should have.  And in the end it was World War II that ended it not government.

Did you see that quarterly earnings reports came in and guess how much the oil companies lost? I heard the one is raking in 50 billion. Thats one company and one quarter. Oil drops in price and has no impact on gas prices. Oil raises in price and gas goes through the roof. What stays steady is the oil company profits.

I always love the stock republican answer too... no more government. Oh really thats exactly what we need is an unregulated corporation gone completely unchecked. I am sure they will safeguard us all and stop ripping us off... sure....