[CertainInalienableRights]

Make sure gas prices are not raised above the cap

What happens when the cost of a gallon of gas exceeds the price cap?

Just to put your plan in perspective, most stations make a few pennies per gallon on gasoline sales, and the oil companies make about 9 cents per gallon. So you're looking at about a 10 cent market swing before everyone in the supply chain loses money on every gallon sold (unless, of course, you start cutting into the 50-60 cent/gallon gasoline tax).

That leaves you with two choices - raise the price cap, which defeats its purpose, or force companies to sell gasoline at a loss. Of course, the third alternative is to do nothing and create a massive gasoline black market. On the plus side, a black market would defeat the tax scheme that the various levels of government have put on gasoline.

[barnswallow]

"and the oil companies make about 9 cents per gallon"

That is right up there with the Easter Bunny.

"or force companies to sell gasoline at a loss"

Think of that as a temporary "tax" until the oil markets settle. But they really wouldn't be selling at a loss. We all know that.