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Oil Frustration: Why "Cheap" Oil Right Now Isn't Manipulation I see a ton of frustration on X about oil prices. People look at the geopolitical chaos, Middle East tensions, Hormuz disruptions, etc. and can't believe oil is trading in the $68–72 range. They immediately cry “manipulation” because governments are releasing from strategic reserves. Buddy, that's literally why the STRATEGIC Petroleum Reserve exists. The SPR (and similar reserves worldwide) was created for exactly this: supply stress. You fill it when oil is cheap and abundant. You release it during crises to prevent economic meltdown. It’s not a conspiracy to hurt traders — it’s basic risk management for the entire economy. Would you rather have oil spike to $500/barrel, sending gasoline through the roof and turning a liter of milk into an $80 luxury item? Or use the buffer we wisely built up to smooth out the shock? Releasing reserves during genuine supply threats is responsible policy, not market rigging. Not everything is a conspiracy to help a few speculators make a quick buck. Sometimes common sense and basic economics still apply. The SPR isn’t infinite, and it’s been drawn down hard lately for good reason. But screaming “manipulation” every time prices don’t explode ignores why these tools were created in the first place. #Oil