DC Braces for megastorm

[Imran Siddiqui]

And it's all because you and your kind, driven by pride, impose your moral values on the rest of us.

I also find it amusing when Christians seem to know nothing of compassion, and consider it pride and imposing morality to help out the least of these... as if our Lord and Savior didn't command that for us.

[giblets]

The current infrastructure can support this? In addition, this additional supply for the next week or so would come from... ? And put shipped too... (one of the issues is that a lot of gas stations aren't functional due to lack of power) ?

Why shouldn't the highway system be able to handle thousands of trucks carrying jerry cans of gas? Makes sense to me. Let people charge double the normal price.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Why shouldn't the highway system be able to handle thousands of trucks carrying jerry cans of gas? Makes sense to me. Let people charge double the normal price.

None of the highways were damaged in any way by the storm, were they?

[Felch]

I also find it amusing when Christians seem to know nothing of compassion, and consider it pride and imposing morality to help out the least of these... as if our Lord and Savior didn't command that for us.

Compassion has nothing to do with interfering in trade. It has nothing to do with forcing price controls, and seizing the assets of merchants who serve the market. Compassion is not imposing your will on others, and forcing them to obey your commands.

[Kidlicious]

The economic public interest IS the moral public interest, Imran. They are one and the same.

That's why we're against price gouging. Do you know what consumer surplus is?

[giblets]

None of the highways were damaged in any way by the storm, were they?

I really don't know, but when millions of people are left to their own devices sometimes people come up with good ideas if you let them put those ideas into practice instead of arresting them for turning a profit. The local gas stations probably don't want to price gouge because it's bad business, but the opportunity would motivate outsiders.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Compassion has nothing to do with interfering in trade. It has nothing to do with forcing price controls, and seizing the assets of merchants who serve the market. Compassion is not imposing your will on others, and forcing them to obey your commands.

Jesus obviously let the money lenders at the temple go about their trade. Anything else would be "interfering" and "forcing them to obey [his] commands".

[Dinner]

I saw some pictures of the FDR Parkway (major artery in Manhattan) completely flooded and under five feet of water. I saw pictures of the bridges over loaded with long lines of cars because all the tunnels were flood. There is massive damage to roads and infrastructure yet these people think some how lots of new trucks will suddenly make the situation better? Especially since the situation is returning to normal already so any intentional price difference would be extremely short, so short, as to not justify any sort of large investment?

Come on, this is just a complete lack of common sense out of Reg and company.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I really don't know, but when millions of people are left to their own devices sometimes people come up with good ideas if you let them put those ideas into practice instead of arresting them for turning a profit. The local gas stations probably don't want to price gouge because it's bad business, but the opportunity would motivate outsiders.

Here's the thing - you are talking about a week. That's when the power is supposed to be repaired. We aren't discussing even a month from now. I would say that the chances of some really good idea has a very short time to come into fruition.

And people would not like to see business profit off the misfortunes of others. Most folk do believe that unrestrained free market is a heartless and soulless system and government is there to temper those excesses - this being one of them, in their moral calculation.

[giblets]

Here's the thing - you are talking about a week. That's when the power is supposed to be repaired. We aren't discussing even a month from now. I would say that the chances of some really good idea has a very short time to come into fruition.

And people would not like to see business profit off the misfortunes of others. Most folk do believe that unrestrained free market is a heartless and soulless system and government is there to temper those excesses - this being one of them, in their moral calculation.

Lots of people profit off of tragedy and misfortune for a living- just look at doctors who work at hospitals, funeral directors and trial lawyers. Nothing wrong with it.

[Felch]

Jesus obviously let the money lenders at the temple go about their trade. Anything else would be "interfering" and "forcing them to obey [his] commands".

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

What does that have to do with adjusting prices to reflect changes in supply and demand after a natural disaster? It sounds a lot more like an admonition to separate religion and commerce.

[Felch]

Oh wait, I forgot, you're a smug bastard, and you pick and choose parts of the Bible that match your own prejudices, so that you can shove them in people's faces. There are parts that disagree with your own personal moral code, but you know better than God so you just ignore those.

[Kidlicious]

Compassion has nothing to do with interfering in trade. It has nothing to do with forcing price controls, and seizing the assets of merchants who serve the market. Compassion is not imposing your will on others, and forcing them to obey your commands.

Would you mind explaining your theology of price gouging?

[Felch]

Would you mind explaining your theology of price gouging?

The burden of proof isn't on freedom, it's on oppression. Would you mind explaining your theology of domination and control?

[Kidlicious]

The burden of proof isn't on freedom, it's on oppression. Would you mind explaining your theology of domination and control?

Help I'm being oppressed!