Posted on 09/02/2005 10:05:18 PM PDT by NonZeroSum
Let's just say she can't define it, but she'll know it when she sees it. :)
LOL! I keep telling my father-in-law he's a communist because he keeps saying communism can work, if it was done correctly.
Ah, someone picked up on that rather oblique reference, I see.
Yeah, I noticed that as well over here in Columbia, MD.
Besides, there's at least a moral responsibility to lend immediate aid that does not endanger one's own life in such situtations. In this case as a third party, happening to have wandered into such a strange town, I'd have no compunction taking that ladder by force and rescueing the person. I'd return the ladder. If there was any damage to the ladder, I'd pay the owner for repair or replacement and possibly bill the person I rescued.
Exactly. :)
Nice article.
"There is no such thing as price gouging, and anyone who says otherwise is a Communist fool. In a capitalist economy there is no such thing as "price gouging"! In the old communist economies of East Europe there were always lines for everything as things were always in short supply. That was because the prices were kept artifically low. There was no incentive to produce goods for artificially low prices. When they switched to capitalism the lines dried up when the prices went up. The stores are now full of goods. The prices are much higher as well. There were those who complained "But the price of bread is now 10 times what it used to be and I can't afford that." The answer to that is: "If the price of bread is so high then now is the perfect time to get into the bread-making business." Those who saw opportunity thrived. Those who ran to the government for protection -- well, they are called "Democrats."
I'm amazed at the number of people on this thread who really do understand micro economics. I'm impressed!!
The relatively small change in the price of gas is one thing. Someone coming in, buying up all the generators available in an area, then setting up shop selling those same generators for THREE times the price is most assuredly GOUGING! This is what was happening in Jackson, MS this week. Of course, the guy had bugged out by the time the police arrived.
Price gouging is a legal matter, but we can't have law discussed in the traditional, rational, pragmatic or Holmesian organic public policy style. We have to sacrifice law to free market and ignore that the modern market is a recent phenomenon that arose with the cities and modern industry in the late 1800s. Let's just go with our gut feeling and a remembrance of 'Atlas Shrugged' as if any of us would be invited to Galt's Gulch.
I guess the hardware store should have raised prices appropriately so that people don't come in and buy up all the generators. Keep an item that is in demand at an artificially low price will cause the hoarding that you see.
Right on! Dr. Sowell would be proud of you :-).
Thanks ;-)
It's simple. No one is forced to buy anything.
I understand economics probably just as well or even better than either of you. I also have experience with what happens in a disaster. It's best to combine theory with real world experience. But if you're still convinced that you're right, I'll make the same suggestion I made to someone else. Go to a disaster area and corner the market in some needed commodity, and then offer to resell it for ten times the price. And since you're proud of your gouging activity, by all means put up a sign explaining what you've done. But then pray that the police put you in the safety of their jail before the local people who are trying to survive get a hold of you.
My real world experience is that good businesses like Home Depot bring in extra supply before and after a hurricane and they usually stay open extended hours. People get what they want, and Home Depot does a great business, making lots of money at its usual prices or just a bit more to cover their costs. Everbody's happy and it's a win-win situation. So why should Home Depot and their customers be distracted from their good work just to keep a few charlatans from cornering the market?
Why would you want to go to Galt's Gulch? Why associate with people who believe that your economic success is YOUR business and not the business of others or a government?
The only thing special about Galt's Gulch is that it was populated by people who believed in self-reliance. You can start your own Galt's Gulch wherever you wish. Just don't associate with people who wish to make their problems your burden.
I am having some difficulty distinguishing between these and those who are jonesing around NO looking for something to take the edge off.
a bit defensive for someone so sure of your position.. for someone so educated it's a shame you are so angry..all your so called "facts" won't help you on judgement day, and not believing won't save you either.. but hey.. it's your eternity.
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