....does not necessarily include the behind the scenes wheeling and dealing that would be required to manipulate prices as I've suggested. I think of a conspiracy more as a large scale plan carried out in abject secrecy to fulfill an agenda. Once again you're falling into that effective conservative labeling technique to find an objectionable word and manipulate it to make the opposition lose credibilty. It's your word. Go choke on it.

The price manipulation would include very few people and, for it to be successful, wouldn't necessarily require complete secrecy other than the private phone calls from politicians to industry leaders asking for some help. We're talking very small policy changes that can be instituted by directives from company CEO's and oil cartel leaders that signal a gradual shift of price or production changes. All of it's completely legal and much of it above board. It's only the ethical point I'm bringing up and the financial and political incentive for them to carry it out is way too compelling to discount the possibility. What have they got to lose? If somehow the news were to leak out, the media has shown little inclination to chase stories like this, and very few people pay attention anyway.

Just for the record REB, I don't cater to conspiracies where huge numbers of people would be involved to carry them out. Basic human nature shows that the percentage of people who's conscience would win out or would lash out in retribution because of a personal tiff means it's impossible to contain the secrecy. Also, the probability of a large conspiracy drops greatly if the consequences of the manipulation carries with it dire consequences.

The price manipulation (not the price conspiracy) meets none of those criteria so it passes my own personal test that not only is it possible but because of the financial incentives, highly likely.

REB, let's say I'm right. Open your mind here a bit. Would it not bother you that your party of choice would engage in such a manipulation and wouldn't it signal to you that resorting to cheap political tricks would mean that their basic platform was unsellable to the American public? If so, how could you still with good conscious stand behind them?

Art