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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cogito who wrote (78508)	7/28/2006 9:32:39 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

You seem to believe that "the market" can solve all problems. No I don't think it can solve all problems, but if it can't that doesn't mean the government can, or that if the government can it doesn't create other negative side effects when it does. Generally the market is the best way to allocate resources. Is it always in every possible situation the best? Probably not, but it is often enough that there should be a high degree of skepticism about any non-market solution, at least in any case where a market solution is possible (even if less than perfect). Does it not strike you as obvious that for a lot of people, "willingness" is not the issue. If you don't have the money, you can't pay for the goods, no matter how willing you might be. Yes and if price controls are applied and you don't have the political connections, or the luck to get in line first, or the time to spend in line to wait to get the item you want, or a friend who has a friend who has a friend who can get you what you need, or the ability to fight others off and grab it, or whatever you need to deal with whatever other method of rationing is used, then you don't get the goods either. Its not as if price controls allow everyone to get what they want, if there was that much supply there wouldn't be the upward pressure on prices in the first place. Also if you allow higher prices, you help alleviate the shortage. You don't only reduce demand, but you increase the supply, perhaps not immediately but the supply issues will sort themselves out better if prices are allowed to float than if you put price controls in place. "Sorry, if you're not willing to pay the price, you can't have food" Food is usually distributed free by relief agencies, and also is less likely to be very scarce over a large area for a length of time. I've never heard of a price gouging prosecution against a seller of food. Those laws are aimed more at sales of things like gasoline or generators.