[staytrue]

take a few courses in Economics, its very clear you have no idea what you are talking about.

Every economics book I ever read argues for regulation of monopolies.

Gouging can only occur when a monopoly exists. No one argues that monopolies should be allowed to operate unfettered.

[stylin_geek]

The Standard Oil Trust actually brought the price of kerosene down a considerable amount. Anti-trust legislation was aimed at the Standard Oil Trust, even though after the company became a monopoly, the price of kerosene dropped a tremendous amount. It went from somewhere around 18 cents a gallon to 7 cents a gallon.

So, again, in what way are monopolies bad?

[konaice]

Gouging can only occur when a monopoly exists.

Not true.

Allegations of gouging in Atlanta and Florida are in the news over the last 4 days.

There is no monopoly, and no immediate shortage. Simply a fear of a shortage sufficient to make people pay $6 per gallon for gasoline for hording purposes.

In these situations gouging is the best thing that can happen. It puts a brake on the hording.

We are not talking about the regulation of monopolies in this thread.