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….I would argue that all those influencers on gas prices that you list are weak influencers. The strong influencer is what the market will bear. Also, I was focusing on the general consumer, not, for example, airlines who buy up fuel futures to hedge against rising prices (as SWA did successfully a few years back).
Regarding oil speculation (which is the same as stocks, orange juice, etc.) - there is the argument that the US should identify oil as a strategic resource and limit futures trading of it. That would have a stabilizing effect on the price of oil.
Not to distract from the original purpose of the OP: to highlight why the price of a barrel of oil is disconnected from the price of gas. 
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