Mike, I agree with everything you say with the exception of the CFTC investigation motive. I believe they are only doing this as a thinl veiled offensive move. When challenged down the road at some hearing or another, their excuse will be that they were in the process of investigating the manipulation but had not had enough time or information to proceed. Just like the hearings we are witnessing today and the replies from the arrogant, beyond reproach, finger pointing, disingenuous testimony from likes of Geithner. He just didn't know and he did "it" to protect the American tax payer even though it is obviously a blatant lie. He will never be taken to task, nor will Paulson. These are only a few examples of powerful crimiinals who have blood all over their hands who will never face the taxpayers for robbing them blind. It will be no different for the succession of players in management positions with the CFTC over the last ten years...all complicit in the crimes against the American people ... and globally. there just won't be the courage or authoerity allowed to charge them all.
One day the physical will trump the paper. "When", is the operative question. I suspect "they" know when but us poor shmucks will have to guess and by that time "they" want most of "us" out of the game because "they" want all the marbles going the their way.