(08-15-2024, 08:49 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: Here is an example of why I cannot commit to Harris.  Today, she is proposing an anti-price-gouging law.  Now, anyone who believes in free markets knows that there is nothing wrong with charging absolutely as much as you can for a product or service.  That's the way the system is supposed to work.   Profits produce jobs, profits bring competition, profits are the life blood of a healthy economy.  We should tax profits, yes, but we should never tell people they cannot charge as much as they can for their product or service.  

If I have a hundred thirsty people in front of me, and I have 25 bottles of water, I should charge as much as I can get for that water, because I will take that money and buy more water, and someone else will see what I am doing and try to do the same thing.  That's the way a healthy economy works.  

I cannot get on board with the idea that the government should decide when a company is charging too much for their product.

This question deserves a better, direct answer.
I first read the question in terms of Hurricane's reply about hotel rooms during an evacuation.

We've had anti price gouging laws in Florida for a very long time.  They only apply to emergency situations.  Most states have similar laws.  They work.  The feds don't need to get involved with them.  

Kamala's people are talking about a new federal law against price gouging but it seems this law will be nothing like the state level laws.  In France, most businesses have to submit their prices to the government and give a reason every time they increase their prices.  The government can tell them their reason isn't good enough and prohibit the price increase.  That wouldn't work here. It barely works there.  I would strongly oppose that kind of plan.  

On the other hand, perhaps Kamala is talking about undoing some of the mergers we have seen food processors and many of our name brands conglomerate into. There's a high likelihood of price fixing too, at least in some of these places, and it should be investigated and punished. That would take years in the courts, and might not lower prices, but it is still worth doing.

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