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To: Kaslin
Or to put it another way: Name any product or service that is delivered in a competitive free market that has not gotten cheaper over time.

Gasoline. But one reason why it has not gotten cheaper is because of the taxes levied on it and government regulations regarding its production and delivery. So it's debatable whether it's actually delivered in a free market.

5 posted on 07/23/2007 5:12:18 AM PDT by randita
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To: randita
Gasoline. But one reason why it has not gotten cheaper is because of the taxes levied on it and government regulations regarding its production and delivery. So it's debatable whether it's actually delivered in a free market.

What you say is true, but because gasoline is a commodity it follows the laws of supply and demand more than other goods and services.

Demand is increasing due to the rising affluence of China and India. These countries are purchacing gasoline at an increasing rate. This coupled with some of the refining capacity being cut do to hurricanes and floods supply has been restricted.

The current upward trend in gasoline prices I believe is temporary. As has been said rising prices are their own solution. As prices rise exploration and development will increase supply and prices will fall again.

9 posted on 07/23/2007 5:31:49 AM PDT by Pontiac (Patriotism is the natural consequence of having a free mind in a free society.)
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To: randita
So it's debatable whether it's actually delivered in a free market.

It's not, beginning at the source, with OPEC.

14 posted on 07/23/2007 5:38:34 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: randita

In nominal terms gasoline is not cheaper than it used to be, but in real terms gasoline has gotten cheaper in spite of increased government regulations and all the excise taxes imposed on it.


19 posted on 07/23/2007 6:06:42 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: randita
Or to put it another way: Name any product or service that is delivered in a competitive free market that has not gotten cheaper over time.

Gasoline. But one reason why it has not gotten cheaper is because of the taxes levied on it and government regulations regarding its production and delivery. So it's debatable whether it's actually delivered in a free market.

You missed the key point: A product or service delivered in a FREE markey. Gasoline is not sold in a free market but in a market regulated by the government.

22 posted on 07/23/2007 7:16:43 AM PDT by calex59
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