England’s largest gasoline supplier went bust. Belly-up.

Its failure is merely a symptom of the disease. The real issue is the frightening pace our manipulated energy market is melting down.

The crude market is anything but free. It is run by a government-led cartel that controls daily production limits. If prices get too high or too low… the cartel fixes it.

The problem is supply and demand don’t dictate why prices move. These days, oil prices are slave to political risk. If Egypt erupts; prices rise. If Sudan cuts a pipeline; prices rise. If Iran curls its biceps; prices rise.

It is simply a function of a market dominated by politics versus reality.

Petroplus is bankrupt because it cannot survive in an industry where demand is falling and input prices are rising.

Nobody can.

Sadly, there is plenty of evidence this is just the way political leaders want it. If their grand energy schemes won’t work in a free market, they’ll rig the market in their favor.

Welcome to pandora’s box, the show is about to begin.