I've been thinking for a while now that while I may not like the decisions politicians are making I may be looking at it the wrong way, and they may be actually doing what's best for their country.

We all know that the international markets are fairly deregulated, but can be manipulated by powerful governments. So when the US government consistently takes steps that bring insecurity to the market increasing the prices it makes me wonder whether they aren't doing it because it's actually better for the country (we already know it's better for oil companies).

Things that come to mind
- The strength of US is know how and technology. It's more energy efficient than most everybody
- Energy inefficient countries are becoming more competitive with US
- If the energy prices are to go up it will hurt more the energy inefficient manufacturing than the energy efficient one, making the second more competitive
- US has critical influence over one of the largest producers of crude oil and can manipulate the market in the opposite direction it needs to.

After all in a market economy the most valuable players to US are the ones on wall street, who have expertise in complicated financial schemes like nobody else, and are thus in the best position to take advantage of unstable market, and not the 'middle class' who is probably affected negatively 'at the pump' and the 'heating bills'.
Just how the free market works. I always thought the message was 'If the gas prices are too high for you, the best is to find a better job or else deal with it any way you like'.