Posted on 09/12/2008 1:41:12 PM PDT by Old Sarge
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky's governor has signed an order declaring a state of emergency and invoking the state's anti-price gouging law as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast.
Gov. Steve Beshear signed the order on Friday, saying gas stations started raising fuel prices overnight before the storm made landfall.
Beshear signed the order at the request of Attorney General Jack Conway, who said in a letter released Friday that invoking the law now will help prevent predatory pricing.
(Excerpt) Read more at whas11.com ...
For any reader who doesn't see the obvious, I answered by citing examples, as well as listing related examples.
No, and I'm sure the oil companies will expect absolutely no government help from the National Guard or any other government agency after the storm passes. They surely have all the resources they need to clear the roads and restore damaged infrastructure without any help from the U.S. taxpayers. All oil company employees should be on their own. If they don't feel part of this Country and look at natural disaster as a way to increase profits, fine. You're on your own. No help from Any government agency or charitable institution.
Good luck with that recovery. I'm sure profits will be back as soon as you find a way to do everything yourselves.
I'd rather buy gasoline from a foreign country than from those who would use a natural disaster to gouge more money from their fellow citizens.
If were in business and anticipated much higher wholesaler prices, I would up the price on my existing inventory (such as fuel already in the tanks) while still trying to attract customers. Business is not a charitable organization and differing gas prices is not price gouging.
Yes, and if you were in an accident with a number of other people you would understand if doctors wouldn't touch you unless you poneyed up $100K up front. Those that can pay get treated, those that can't will have to wait until the price comes down. After all, it's only business and with all those people to treat demand just went through the roof. You couldn't possibly call it gouging.
They do import gasoline into New York City.
They might be able to import gasoline into the Louisiana Superport, which would help in the short term.
But the problem with tankers is that it takes some lead time to anticipate the need. Next week would be the earliest for tankers to arrive that might come from Mexico or other places because you have load the tankers and then they have to travel to the US.
We are currently extremely vulnerable to hurricanes disrupting gasoline refining.
That is the achilles heel that has not been addresses.
We were bitten by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
And now the Hurricanes Gustav and Ike combo...
Whatever. That damn bell curve doesn’t seem to be accurate any more.
The price of oil has dropped significantly but, our gas price has stayed the same.
Yep. I won’t drive somewhere if it’s for something I could hold off on or just walk if it’s as high as it is now, but if it’s truly important, like my mom or brother is in trouble, $50 gal isn’t too expensive.
Ping.
People of different political persuasions would see this hypothetical in different ways.
Randians would say "This is great. It's how the free market allocates the distribution of medical skills."
Conservatives would say "This is reprehensible conduct, but it's a free country and the doctors can do as they please, regardless of the fact that I don't like it."
Liberals would say "This is reprehensible conduct, and the power of the state should be used to restrict the doctors from engaging in it."
Same thing here in North Carolina
Unfortunately, the legislators know all about supply and demand. It's just that, for them, the temptation to make themselves look good by demagoguing every nitwit who thinks you can legislate prices and maintain supply is just too great to resist.
Maybe we should have Congress just take over all the refinery's.
Beshear may be trying to raise his 33% approval rating.
That means if gasoline can reach Kentucky/other places from pipelines in New York City/Philadelphia/New Jersey -- then this will help the situation.
Foreign tankers can start shipping gasoline to the United States...
That means that imported gasoline can help with the shortages...
Easy enough. I’d just close my gas station, send the employees home without pay, and wait until supply and delivery come back to normal.
Holding a commodity over one’s head in an effort to have them choose between life or death is one thing.
If you’ve got the only bullets in town and no one is going to get any more supply, then the real question is how much do I have to pay to keep this store open, pay the employees, pay the costs of business for one week, 2 weeks, etc.
If I can’t make that much money in the 2 weeks it takes to get new supplies, then why exactly should I stay open?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.