You're a liar and without honor.....
You've consistently misstated, misrepresented and flat made-up hypothetical positions that I supposedly took.
Your lack of understanding regarding ethics and morality in business for a capitalistic society is astonishing. However, in your case, I'll must consider the source.
You're parents must be proud....
The post is #199, since we can now add truly lazy to your list of character flaws....
Shouldn't you be in school now, I'm sure the bell is ringing, little boy?
NeverGore
Hold the standard margin percentage as a fixed profit during a crisis....thus if they had a standard 10% and were buying gasoline at $2.00/gal they would continue to charge the $2.20/gal until their supplies ran out. If the new gas came in at $3.00/gal then they would charge $3.20/gal until the state of emergency was over....then let full free market reign again...
You have singularly failed to answer the two objections that have been raised long ago:
First, if a new shipment comes in at $3/gal, the guy who sold his gas at $2.50/gal can't afford the new gas shipment. You're assuming enough capital in savings to purchase a whole shipment of gas despite a shortfall on receipts from the last shipment.
Second, this method of distribution guarantees that the gas station will sell out completely in short order, as everyone stocks up. (Note: this is already happening in Georgia, where anti-gouging laws have been activated.) So your recommendation is precisely as I've described it: first-come, first-served, until the pump runs dry. You haven't remotely proven that this results in the fairest, most equitable distribution of fuel. The first complaint is that first-come, first-served is not at all biased in favor of use by emergency vehicles, but I would think that the most ethical distribution system would give priority to emergency vehicles in some way, shape or form. First-come, first-served, fails that test.
So having claimed that this strategy is the most ethical, go ahead and prove that it is in fact more ethical than the alternatives. Ready? Set? Go ahead.