[count-your-change]

Not so long ago when stations didn't get, couldn't get the supplies they needed even and odd plate rationing worked without too much problem, certainly less than miles long lines.

No one filled out forms, no had to grovel, no hoops, lines were reduced saving gas and it was easier to stretch supplies that way than to simply raise the price temporarily to discourage use.

“Do you really advocate putting your fate into the hands of someone else?”

Say what? Your fate in an emergency is already in the hands of others. The worker who may or may not restore your power, the official who may close the road to traffic, the first responder who may give up the search for you or press on, the medical worker practicing triage.

What I suggested as an alternative to raising prices to restrict use which is a form or rationing, is to ration availability so everybody has a chance to obtain a share without deciding its “fairness”.

“Someone with a desperate need will get it”

Really? Might you suggest how that would occur if they get to the station and find it empty. What matter the price then? Then what's fair?

[Tymesup]

Suppose I need 1/3 of a tank of gas per day to get to work. With odd/even, I’m going every other day and filling up. I may frivol away the remaining 1/3 of a tank at 4 bucks a gallon. With no odd/even and unlimited prices, I go every 3 days and buy whatever I need, and not a drop more.

Suppose I can get a truck full of gas from flyover country to odd/even country. Why bother, I might as well sell it in flyover country, my profit’s the same.

Suppose there was a way to pump the gas twice as fast, but it cost 1,000 bucks to install. At 8 cents a gallon profit, why bother? At 80 cents a gallon profit, it makes a lot more sense.

***

A friend of mine complained that there were no 700 dollar generators left in the stores. I asked her if she’d prefer being able to buy the same generator for 1,500.

[BfloGuy]

No one filled out forms, no had to grovel

No. You just had to sit there for hours. Technically, in my book, that's grovelling.

Might you suggest how that would occur if they get to the station and find it empty.

That's what allowing merchants to set prices is designed to prevent. And, after all, the gasoline is their property. Why shouldn't they have the right you'd claim to sell your own property at the price you determine?

I don't think you're following the discussion.