Yes, we can.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Getting back to Leo’s flood/bread analogy. I would hope, if some jerk tried charging starving disaster victims $20 for a loaf of bread, the authorities would confiscate said bread and throw is profiteering ass in jail!

Total agreement. I know Leo threw in "risking life and limb" but in the end, what is he risking it for? An $18 profit. Boo.

The idea that the gas companies are somehow being unselfish is beyond laughable. We all know that Exxon made more money last year than any company has ever made in any year, ever, right? That is, while we are paying prices for gas that are bankrupting delivery businesses and making some people decide between paying their mortgage and driving to work.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Total agreement. I know Leo threw in "risking life and limb" but in the end, what is he risking it for? An $18 profit. Boo.

So are the people better off with no food? Or paying $20/loaf?

All items have value. If I were the flood victim, I owuldn't be happy to be paying $20/loaf. But I'd sure be glad that I had something to feed my kid.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

So are the people better off with no food? Or paying $20/loaf?

All items have value. If I were the flood victim, I owuldn't be happy to be paying $20/loaf. But I'd sure be glad that I had something to feed my kid.

Why does it have to be either/or? Why not sell the bread at a reasonable rate? Say 20% above the pre flood price. Or better yet… donate the bread and get free publicity and tons of good will. Assuming a normal price of $4 a loaf $20 would be a 400% mark-up! That’s not making a decent profit, that’s obscene greed!

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Total agreement. I know Leo threw in "risking life and limb" but in the end, what is he risking it for? An $18 profit. Boo.

The idea that the gas companies are somehow being unselfish is beyond laughable. We all know that Exxon made more money last year than any company has ever made in any year, ever, right? That is, while we are paying prices for gas that are bankrupting delivery businesses and making some people decide between paying their mortgage and driving to work.

Bolding mine. Since an argument could be made that people shouldn't have bought more house then they could afford (and divulge into a predatory lending discussion) I'd change it to buying groceries or paying utiltiies and driving to work.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

The idea that the gas companies are somehow being unselfish is beyond laughable. We all know that Exxon made more money last year than any company has ever made in any year, ever, right? That is, while we are paying prices for gas that are bankrupting delivery businesses and making some people decide between paying their mortgage and driving to work.

Yes, I know that. I just don't see how it is particularly relevant. And overt government attempts to cap gasoline prices will not work. A windfall tax in an environment of unchanged demand -- and the US market is an increasingly smaller portion of global demand -- will just raise gasoline prices. A cap on profits will just cause companies to stop selling gas once they've maxed out for the year.

I have no problem with oil companies raping us from both ends. I just want to stop subsidizing them for the privilege.