On 29/11/2010 08:33, Michael Watterson wrote:
>    On 29/11/2010 00:54, Vitaliy wrote:
>> Carl Denk wrote:
>>> The whole issue here is, unscrupulous people taking advantage.
>> Let's assume for a second that that disaster victims are normal people w=
ho
>> aren't stupid. When the "price gouger" gets on the scene, these normal
>> people have choices: they can buy the goods at inflated prices, get them
>> from another source, or do without.
>>
>> When "price gouging" is made illegal, effectively it means that one of t=
he
>> choices is eliminated. Are the victims now better off?
>>
>> Let's look at how Florida defines price gouging:
>>
>> "Florida Statute 501.160 states that during a state of emergency, it is
>> unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential
>> commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount th=
at
>> grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days
>> before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can
>> justifying the price by showing increases in its prices or market trends=
..
>> Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber."
>>
>> In practice, what happens is a run on the stores after any emergency or
>> crisis. Since the stores aren't able to control demand via prices, very
>> quickly all you are left with, are empty shelves. You cannot buy anythin=
g,
>> at any price.
>>
>> The dynamics of price controls were well understood back in the eighteen=
th
>> century, when Adam Smith argued against the corn laws that, while
>> well-intentioned, created famines.
>>
>> Vitaliy
>>
> There is also the option of an upper limit. Perhaps x2 isn't an
> unreasonable upper limit given perhaps higher transport costs, overtime,
> risks etc.
>
> Zero control and excessive or the wrong control both seem to lead to
> much evil.

Indeed - usually quite true. Life is an exercise in moderation... If I=20
find myself having "extreme" thoughts/feelings it's generally a good=20
indicator that it's time to stop and have a good think. Sometimes my=20
"real" brain kicks in too late though.. :-)
The problem with even the most "infallible" and well constructed laws is=20
that you need completely fallible humans to enforce/abide by them. I'm=20
quite big on tolerance - one of the things we seem to find the hardest=20
is accepting faults/differences in others. To quote the Dalai Lama: "In=20
the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher"

--=20
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