This CNNMoney article highlights something very important and very real that liberals need to learn to acknowledge when talking about economics - the threat or possibility of something happening in the future influencing the present day reality.  Excerpt:

In the last three days oil prices have fallen by roughly $10 a barrel. Many analysts say slackening demand, or the threat of it, is the main culprit.

But another force could be at work in the background. Last week various analysts said there was talk that Mexico, the world’s fifth largest oil producer, was hedging its bets - the country was said to be signing contracts to deliver oil several years into the future at today’s prices. Essentially, it was betting oil prices have peaked.

“This is a smart move,” said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago, who also thinks there’s a good chance prices have peaked. “If I were an oil producer, I’d want to lock in these prices.”

Analysts say if other oil producers follow suit and lock in future contracts, that could be one thing that would cause oil prices to fall, far and fast.

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