Quote:You don't even know your own argument.

 

When they control supply, they control demand. Limit supply, demand and prices increase.

 

If these companies conspired, like mentioned earlier, then the supply / demand model wouldn't be totally applicable. They'd still make their money but on less expended resources. There's no reason to believe one company couldn't own everything, either. Government doesn't have a factor in that equation until you remove them entirely, then imagine what a corporate oligarchy would do without any threat of legal action. People will not stop using oil / gas, Eric. 

 

Who the hell's talking about Anarchy!?

 

You made two examples of where we need government to control cost, one was water, where I pointed out water is free, you pay for someone to treat it and send into your house via pipes. The second was oil, which is a commodity directly effected by supply and demand. Now you're suggesting one big company can control the flow or demand of one of the most sought after natural resources to man. It's simply not true, the federal government does NOTHING to control the price of gas, they only influence the price you pay in the form of taxes.

 

It's why crude oil is dropping faster then rocks in the water and it's expected to fall to $50 a barrel there's not enough demand, not because government is doing something different, heck government is trying to slow down oil production and they're about as successful as a fish swimming up river. The market not government sets prices, even the big companies are beholden to what the consumer will pay.

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