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Gas Rationing

  • Am I the only one that has a problem with this? It's government intervention at its worst. These gas stations that actually have gas shouldn't have to ration it among people in need, they should be able to sell it to whomever they want. Whomever is willing to pay gets the gas. We are a free market capitalist society. I hate it when the government steps in and imposes burdensome regulations that prevent people from maximizing profit. Rant over.

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    You may run like Hayes, but you hit like $*!#

    CockAtLaw

  • Maximizing profits? A gallon of gas is a gallon of gas. Does it matter if 1 person buys all of it or 1000 people? Won't it still be sold? Maybe I'm missing something.

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    DrStache

  • If there is that much demand that it has to be rationed, how will that keep gas stations from maximizing profit? There gonna sell the same amount either way.

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    HOOSINSC

  • Sorry, in my rant, I forgot to also add the lawsuits against proprietors who were raising prices because demand was going up. Not just the rationing, but a combination of the rationing plus prevention from allowing the price to be set by the market.

    Price-gouging suits leveled against eight NJ businesses - Business on NBCNews.com

    New Jersey has filed civil suits against eight businesses for gouging customers with exorbitant prices during the state of emergency after ...

    www.nbcnews.com
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    You may run like Hayes, but you hit like $*!#

    CockAtLaw

  • CockAtLaw said...

    Sorry, in my rant, I forgot to also add the lawsuits against proprietors who were raising prices because demand was going up. Not just the rationing, but a combination of the rationing plus prevention from allowing the price to be set by the market.

    Well, I have mixed feelings on that. Gas is like air. We have to have it. I don't think being able to sell gas at 10.00 a gallon would be really fair and don't like any company profiting off of a National disaster.

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    DrStache

  • CockAtLaw said...

    Sorry, in my rant, I forgot to also add the lawsuits against proprietors who were raising prices because demand was going up. Not just the rationing, but a combination of the rationing plus prevention from allowing the price to be set by the market.

    The problem with gas is, as Stache mentioned, that it's a necessity in our society now. There it doesn't really have to play by the rules of supply/demand economics. Gas stations could theoretically make it $10 a gallon and people would be (understandably) outraged, but they'd find a way to pay. They'd have to. Our country wouldn't function without gasoline. Therefore, you've got to keep that in check IMO.

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    sf2k4

  • sf2k4 said...

    The problem with gas is, as Stache mentioned, that it's a necessity in our society now. There it doesn't really have to play by the rules of supply/demand economics. Gas stations could theoretically make it $10 a gallon and people would be (understandably) outraged, but they'd find a way to pay. They'd have to. Our country wouldn't function without gasoline. Therefore, you've got to keep that in check IMO.

    I don't know; I disagree. Our country needs disaster relief organizations too and we all know that private enterprises are better suited to handle that. Also, our country needs a military too but we know that private organizations like Blackwater are better prepared to provide these things, which is why we've been using these organizations since the 80s.

    As you can see, both of these are necessities but better left in the hands of private enterprises. it seems like the gas market would be the same.

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    You may run like Hayes, but you hit like $*!#

    CockAtLaw

  • CockAtLaw said...

    I don't know; I disagree. Our country needs disaster relief organizations too and we all know that private enterprises are better suited to handle that. Also, our country needs a military too but we know that private organizations like Blackwater are better prepared to provide these things, which is why we've been using these organizations since the 80s.

    As you can see, both of these are necessities but better left in the hands of private enterprises. it seems like the gas market would be the same.

    True, but think about this: There's a BP gas station and a Chevron gas station on opposite sides of the block. And let's say gas supply and price are 100% up to them. No, in what would be true capitalistic fashion, they would compete against one another as far as price goes in order to entice consumers to come to their station over the other and, thus, make a profit. However, as I think history has clear shown, what is more likely to happen over time is the two gas station owners will get together and say, "Hey, we could jack up the price by $2 a gallon and still look like we're 'competing' but really we'd both make out like bandits!" And, thus, they do. And people will buy, because gas is a necessity.

    I think a healthy mix of mainly private sector work with some government regulation to make sure sh!t like that doesn't happen is best for everyone. Pure capitalism and the free market economy are great in theory, but like every theory, they rarely work out 100% like they "should." But that's just human nature.

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    sf2k4

  • CockAtLaw said...

    I don't know; I disagree. Our country needs disaster relief organizations too and we all know that private enterprises are better suited to handle that. Also, our country needs a military too but we know that private organizations like Blackwater are better prepared to provide these things, which is why we've been using these organizations since the 80s.

    As you can see, both of these are necessities but better left in the hands of private enterprises. it seems like the gas market would be the same.

    The fastest way to shut down the economy would be to let Gas Prices get up to 8-9 dollars a gallon. People wouldn't be able to afford to go to work. Trucking companies wouldn't be able to deliver goods. Gas is bigger than blackwater and disaster relief.

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    DrStache

  • What about water and power? If you got it you can sell it for whatever you like?

    bcbama

  • I live on the Gulf Coast and after most hurricanes gas stations will only allow you to purchase a certain amount of gas to give everyone a chance to get a little gas. If they didn't have limits there would be people filling up their cars, boats, and tons of gas tanks and the gas would run out quickly while others would get no gas at all. It hasn't been government controlled down here, but I don't necessarily see the problem with the government recognizing a problem and trying to combat the problem with a plan that involves limiting you to gas every other day. I only need gas about once a week so it's hard imagining someone who needs gas more than 3 times a week.

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    SkullyMaroo