by Ron Paul
As the northeastern United States continues to recover from Hurricane Sandy, we hear the usual outcry against individuals and companies who dare to charge market prices for goods such as gasoline. The normal market response of rising prices in the wake of a natural disaster and resulting supply disruptions is redefined as “price gouging.” The government claims that price gouging is the charging of ruinous or exploitative prices for goods in short supply in the wake of a disaster and is a heinous crime. But does this reflect economic reality, or merely political posturing to capitalize on raw emotions?
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the supply of gasoline was greatly disrupted. Many gas stations were unable to pump gas due to a lack of electricity, thus greatly reducing the supply. At the same time demand for gasoline spiked due to the widespread use of generators. Because gas stations were forbidden from raising their prices to meet the increased demand, miles-long lines developed and stations were forced to start limiting the amount of gasoline that individuals could purchase. New Jersey gas stations began to look like Soviet grocery stores.
Had gas stations been allowed to raise their prices to reflect the increased demand for gasoline, only those most in need of gasoline would have purchased gas, while everyone would have economized on their existing supply. But because prices remained lower than they should have been, no one sought to conserve gas. Low prices signaled that gas was in abundant supply, while reality was exactly the opposite, and only those fortunate enough to be at the front of gas lines were able to purchase gas before it sold out. Not surprisingly, a thriving black market developed, with gas offered for up to $20 per gallon.
With price controls in effect, supply shortages were exacerbated. If prices had been allowed to increase to market levels, the profit opportunity would have brought in new supplies from outside the region. As supplies increased, prices gradually would have decreased as supply and demand returned to equilibrium. But with price controls in effect, what company would want to deal with the hassle of shipping gas to a disaster-stricken area with downed power lines and flooded highways when the same profit could be made elsewhere? So instead of gas shipments flooding into the disaster zones, what little gas supply is left is rapidly sold and consumed.
Governments fail to understand that prices are not just random numbers. Prices perform an important role in providing information, coordinating supply and demand, and enabling economic calculation. When government interferes with the price mechanism, economic calamity ensues. Price controls on gasoline led to the infamous gas lines of the 1970s, yet politicians today repeat those same failed mistakes. Instituting price caps at a below-market price will always lead to shortages. No act of any legislature can reverse the laws of supply and demand.
History shows us that the quickest path to economic recovery is to abolish all price controls. If governments really want to aid recovery, they would abolish their “price-gouging” legislation and allow the free market to function.
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This is why i started hating watching Paul’s videos. You idiots always have to bring up Gary Johnson. Ron Paul is NOT Gary Johnson, Ron Paul is Ron Paul. Go and build his own movement seperated from Paul’s, stop plugging yourself via Ron Paul.
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always great info!
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Why isn’t Ron Paul my economics professor?
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I feel like I’m being educated when I’m watching Ron Paul’s videos.
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The Commerce Clause.
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Now apply this same philosophy to drugs.
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Death and taxes. It doesn’t matter where you go.
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Oh I wouldn’t say nobody knows nothing about CIA SOETORO >
LAUGH your ASS OFF while LEARNING about CIA SOETORO’s
DEEP multi-generational CIA background! watch?v=3HAF0bd1VrE
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i beg to differ. The market is controlled by the buying power of the consumer. Price gouging only is allowed if the demand is high enough for it. for example, If a loaf of bread was 50 dollars, then you’d go without bread, therefore the bread maker either drops his price to meet market demand or he goes bankrupt.The collusion of govt allows monopolies by keeping competition out of the “loop”. As long as demand for the product exists, someone will always be there to provide it cheaper.
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100 MILLION MAN MARCH on DC, Wall St, The Fed, and every State Capitol in the country. This CAN be organized…this CAN HAPPEN! Spread the word ! It’s high time we take our Gub’mnt back from the traitors & thieves. We’re shooting for April 22,2013
17 States filed petitions with the U.S. Gub’mnt to secede from the Union!!
OR,AL, AR, LA, MO,TX,Al,Fl,NC,KY,IN,NY,CO,GA,NJ,MT,SC
Barry is being formally charged with treason?
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Are there enough rich people to buy lots of gas? If you have to fill up two SUV’s and a Lexus, that’s lots of gas. Is it possible that these large purchases with low levels of gas could use up all the gas?
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Gary Johnson basically said the same thing during his debate with Jill Stein.
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Ron Paul schools Barack Hussein:
“If you don’t know the Constitution (the one you swore to protect) you shouldn’t be in Office.”
10 minute video — spread it like wildfire!
(also, note how without a teleprompter Lil’ Hussein can’t put two words together without mumbling, bumbling and stumbling)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjt36Txzao&feature=related
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How could we vote this guy back in? I wish that people in these big cities who voted for him could get his whole message. .. all they get is Ron Paul’s denial of things that seem like good things but they never get his reasoning. .. to them they say price gouging is bad, which morally it is, but they don’t get that it would have bought supplies faster instead of waitin for fema to get there. .. people were willing to freeze to death for their hand out. ..if you know you can make money the faster you get there with supplies you hurry which will drive prices down because more supplies means more competition to sell
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If he runs in 2016, the Republicans will do anything they can to stop him.
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what republicans.
The GOP is dead.
Thanks Mitt!
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I don’t think so but states have the right to secede. But the Federal government would never allow that.
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The Declaration of Independence does. And that is U.S. Federal Law.
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No
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“New Jersey gas stations began to look like soviet grocery stores”.
Powerful line.
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I hate that cheap knock-offs are actually overpriced.. Clarks does it.
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This is where Ron Paul is off his rocker. Jew bankers and companies with labor overseas want this shit. This idea of free markets governing themselves is laughable. You’ll only see one of two things: 1) price gouging on monopolies – with constant buy-outs of small competitors 2) slave labor having to compete with 3rd world labor
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What kind of idiotic nonsense is this? Leave it to wRONg Paul to come up with one fuckin’ crackpot pipe dream after another!
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I see you always with your crude comments, but did you even understand why he would say that. ..I don’t care to argue with u, but I hope you’re genuinely disagreeing. ..idk if you understand that he is against foreign wars, anti gay laws, anti drug, and tax laws… you seem quick to judge without reason which is your right until liberals put a law on that. .. if you don’t believe they will look at the guy who made the YouTube video that supposedly caused the benghazi attack… he is in jail…civil liberties are quickly being taken away from you with all this regulation. ..Ron Paul may seem apathetic but there is educated reasoning
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Think of Cell phones as one example. Initially, they are expensive until the all the people who are willing to pay the high price have been satisfied, then the prices fall rapidly. Only way to keep the prices high is to only create a certain amount of cell phones…ie, Law of Scarcity
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Yes, this is true initially but you have to ask yourself this question, Are there enough rich people that have access to the gas and and will they purchase all the gas? the answer is no. Gas is not a niche market therefore sellers want quantity purchases which forces prices down or the law of scarcity prevails.
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I registered to vote for ron paul and look how that turned out… you think if he runs on 2016 the same exploitation wont happen?
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Delete this comment dude.
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Perhaps, but also those who are rich would also have the means to ship more gas into the area in order to make a profit. They had no incentive to do so.
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Rand is not Ron. Rand is owned by the corporations, Israel etc. Rand is not Ron. Follow the money.
»crosslinked«
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yes he makes my cock hard.
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If you “price gouge” and noone can afford the gas, the price will lower in order to spur demand. Someone will have a sale, and then someone else will have a bigger sale, and that will continue until the price is reasonable.
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yep, but you need the high price to entice people OUTSIDE the affected area to ship additional supplies at more risk and cost into the area with the hope of making an excess profit (and hoping your damn tanker doesn’t end up in a ditch, or hit by a tree).
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That’s a Misesian idea. Have you read Rothbard?
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Ok so if they don’t control prices and they sky rocket wouldn’t only the rich be able to afford it and everyone else be left out in the cold?
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They only would have been high until supply or demand decreased
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Obama did win Florida. Yes ron Paul will run in 2016.
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I thought Obama won Florida? That’s what the news said. Can you please explain?
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Anyone think Rand Paul might run in 2016? That could be interesting
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What I mean is that I’d rather have the gas the same day and wait in line at the gas station, not wait a few days if my car’s out of gas
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