Reasons why New York Sucks - Page 51

No service on the G line - so I guess that means all's back to normal?

I drove down the West Side HWY last night to help out some friends on W20th and it was strange how everything was lit until you hit 34th and them boom, blackness. Looks like our servers are still down on 28th & Park so I stayed in today, that and school is out. Driving around Hamilton Heights there were street closures due to large trees down on cars, etc. Still nothing close to some of the footage I've seen over the past few days which was horrific.

Well, I've got one more before moratorium goes in effect: disaster profiteers. I understand the concept of supply & demand, free markets, etc... but there are moments when basic decency should supersede those.

Like the $5 umbrellas that become $10 when it starts raining.

There's a difference IMO. You have hundreds of people volunteering and giving away food, batteries, supplies to help others in a tragic moment like this. And then, you have those who will exploit the bad fortune of others to make an extra buck.

if you lower personal income taxes, this would not be an issue.

It's the double-whammy that chaps my ass. Tons of hourly workers who won't get paid a cent while their employers are closed are then confronted with the profiteers "regulating scarcity."

In the spirit of community goodwill, care for my fellow man and moral rectitude, I am proud to announce that I have not raised the price one bit on my storm essential ties.

Ask Richard Nixon how well price controls work.

If prices stay low at a time when it is known that supplies are going to dwindle, the first consumer to reach the store/gas station will horde, and thus fewer consumers will be served. If gas stays $4/gallon, the station will run out quickly because each purchaser will fill their tank. If gas goes to $15 a gallon, the consumer will think "hmmm I only need a few gallons now - by the time I run out the crisis will be over and prices will return to normal."

Also in a weather crisis situation the vendor may shut down if he determines the risk he is taking is not worth selling at regular prices. And thus supply tightens even more.

Price Gouging Saves Lives in a Hurricane
http://mises.org/daily/1593/Price-Gouging-Saves-Lives-in-a-Hurricane

Yes I guess you could say that scumbags do play a role in a free market economy. They're still scumbags

Scumbag gougers who facilitate rationing and a more even distribution of scarce resources vs. scumbag horders who facilitate skewed distribution of scarce resources. You pick. Or do you prefer stormtroopers setting prices with blasters (and skimming for themselves)?

These are the only available options? Gotcha.