"As for my generator example, perhaps you don't understand that the local market was being cornered and that an artificial shortage was being created. People don't need that when a major hurricane hits."
But they do need generators.
And frankly, all the more reason to NOT have anti-gouging laws. If some local guy is marking up his generators, the absence of an anti-gouging law makes it MORE likely that someone from out of state, maybe even several states away, will bring his truckload of generators down and undercut the overcharging local guy.
Again, if left to its own devices, and with as little government interference as possible, the free market is more efficient, more effective, and actually prevents gouging by giving an economic incentive for more competition.
Anti-gouging laws are nothing but populist measures to buy votes. They do little to help consumers and often hurt them more.
The reason that I ask is that I just read, on another thread, that Treasury released "dyed" diesel (used by agriculture) for use in trucking.
Our harvest starts in about one week; and we have diesel contracts. We cannot afford any shortages (as we are obviously working with a very limited time frame).
Do you have any idea what this will do to the diesel market, as far as supply? What happens if you have contracts for delivery?