Price Gouging Laws Are Causing Gas Shortages

by James Ostrowski

Contrary to what politicians such as Romney, Gary Johnson, Obama and Chris Christie would say, it's during emergencies when you need liberty the most. (Thanks to "Baldy" Harper for that insight.) Here's an object lesson. New York has a silly law making it illegal to raise prices during an emergency. It's almost beside the point that the law itself is unintelligible.

The effect of the law is to dissuade firms such as gas stations from raising prices during times of scarcity so that those consumers who most urgently need gas, e.g., cardiac surgeons on route to the ER, can get it, while retired persons with no urgent business, but who merely get a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of their stomachs from having a full tank, will be encouraged by the price system to wait a few days to indulge their whim.

This theory is being played out in New York City where there are long lines and shortages of gas. Again, the point is, and since Gary Johnson has endorsed FEMA (the horror!), there is no presidential candidate to proclaim this vital principle--it is during disasters, wars, emergencies and storms that we need liberty the most. Dictatorship does not work except for the dictators.

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Anonymous

Posted: Nov 05 2012, 1:01 AM

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Dictatorship? Really? And the right-wingers complain about a "dumbing down" effect. Check the mirror.

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