Brilliant.
Baylen Linnekin | Homepage | 09.16.05 - 4:23 pm | #

I totally agree. My liberal mother spends most of our weekly call ranting about price gouging but I think that raising prices in the face of demand is not only within the seller's rights, it also works in the public interest. High gas prices have caused a decrease in demand, therefore stabilizing the market. Holding prices low would have kept demand constant in the face of a supply shortage and led to "sold out" signs at local gas stations. Who wants that?
Leonardo | Homepage | 09.16.05 - 5:13 pm | #

The entire concept, logically speaking, of "price gouging", has never been valid. Emotionally speaking, sure...but logically, it's rediculous.

Think about this: if those good folks had never bothered to open up a gas station in the first place, then you'd have to drive to the next town---so, what's preferable, $4/gal gasoline, or no gas at all? It's THIER gas, THEY should be able to charge $45/gallon for it if THEY want to. This is the same logical argument-buster that destroys most "worker protection" regulations too, especially such nonsense as min wage laws.

I just fail to understand the prevailing idea in this country that, as soon as you open up the doors to your property and say "come, exchange your money for my goods/services", you are automatically thrust into an entirely new reality, wherein the government somehow has the duty/right to control your every move---and, in most cases, force you to act against your best interests, and instead in the interests of people who have zero stake in your business. Something about that, to me, just seems so against what this country is supposed to protect and stand up for.

So many of our laws are based on nothing but disregard for logic, and gross economic ignorance/misunderstanding.
Evan | 09.18.05 - 5:22 pm | #

Evan, I agree with all that you said. I would say that it doubly applies to a person who owns property and rents it out. Doing so, one becomes the bearer of the expenses of various government strategies to "protect" tenants and win votes. Why doesn't the government pay for its own policies? Most expensive rental markets have extremely pro-tenant legislation, things like Boston's treble damage rule, legislation which makes it a fool's game to rent so owners sell, thereby decreasing the number of available rental properties and pushing up prices.

Yes, I had a very bad and expensive experience as a lessor and am now selling. One less property on the rental market in Boston and no one's victory, certainly not for the honest people seeking a good rental in a tight housing market.
Leonardo | Homepage | 09.18.05 - 6:23 pm | #