Gas prices.... Gouging?

[Name]

to play devils advocate,

The value of gas is the same as the value of anything, it is worth exactly what people will pay for it. The same is true for anything that you have, from a rare coin, to a figurine. If there is literally noone wanting to buy it, it is relatively worthless, as noone will buy it.(you may be able to get a few dollars for said fictional knick knack or coin in a garage sale, but that is beside the point.)

Now, economically speaking, as long as they can increase the price and increase their profits (as it is the most basic economic policy to maximize profits), then they are completely within the statutes of economic law and such(for lack of better terms at the moment, and I don't feel like getting out the economics text at the moment). To those that cannot afford to purchase gas, well, in a pure free economic system, they would have to figure something else out.

But have no fear, we in the good ole USA don't operate under a free economic system(not even the most free in the whole world), so uncle sam will come in and save all those poor souls that would get left behind otherwise.