why should it be a crime to be profitable by selling a product that everyone wants (by virtue of the choices they have made in their lifestyle) to buy?
Stop Price Gouging
Gasoline prices are predicted to be even higher than last summer, even though Big Oil just announced record profits.
Enough is enough! A bill in the House would make gasoline price gouging a federal crime, and it could pass this week! Can you help be sure it does?
A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to your Representative.
4 comments:
hmmm....
price gouging: (noun)
pricing above the market price when no alternative retailer is available
that's actually the definition for price fixing. additionally, there are many gasoline retailers. there is no evidence that any price fixing (or any other market manipulation).
increases in price due to reasons explanable by economic principles of supply and demand, especially with respect to non-essential retail products (i.e. high demand, low supplies of gasoline) should hardly be considered price gauging.
The above definition was from Webster's Dictionary -- I'm told it's a more widely used reference than the alternative "Penster's Dictionary".
For what it's worth, Websters defines price fixing as:
price fixing: (noun)
the establishing of prices at a determined level, either by a government or by mutual consent among producers or sellers of a commodity.
There are many retailers of gasoline -- most of them owned by the 3-4 major oil companies. The interesting thing is, gasoline is the only thing I can put in my car, and their profit margins keep going up in unison -- so does that qualify for "mutual consent by producers of a commodity"?
Also, owning a car in LA is not a "lifestyle choice". It hasn't been a life style choice since General Motors bought and killed the streetcar system so they can sell more cars. But hey it's free enterprise, right?
- gasoline retailers are not owned by oil companies. they are owned by small business owners who have signed contracts with the oil companies to purchase only their refined oil in exchange for various benefits.
- living in los angeles is a lifestyle choice. living far from work is a lifestyle choice. and even in los angeles, it's possible to use public transportation almost anywhere (see http://www.mta.net). living far from a convenient public transport location is a lifestyle choice.
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