Useful Fools

For those who imagine that California has a monopoly on Democrat statists and fools, here is some news: Arizona has them too. Lots of idiots escape from California to Arizona, and then vote for Democrats. Go figure.

Anyway, our dynamic duo, the Democrat Attorney General and the Democrat Governor are now proposing to ensure that future shortages of gasoline are bad. They are going to outlaw “gouging.” Always a sensible voice, Zonitics emphatically demands “gouging” and shows one of the ways it would help, and why it is needed!

The Arizona Anti-RepublicanRepublic details the idiotic response to this totally environmentalist-made crisis:

Attorney General Terry Goddard …
Democrat, son of a former Democrat governor, probable future governor

has received hundreds of complaints about runaway price increases at the Valley’s gas outlets that still have fuel.
From failed graduates of our “educational system” who believe that the government should interfere in the market whenever convenient
…
But Channel 12 (KPNX) spotted a north Phoenix tire shop charging $4.27 for regular unleaded and $4.97 for premium Monday morning. After the film crew showed up, employees lowered the price to $2.97 for regular and $3.97 for premium; the regular price rose to $3.47 by evening.
In other words, the sensationalist media spotted some entrepreneurs whose self-interested actions would help reduce hoarding. These entrepreneurs knew that the press would vilify them, so they unsuccessfully tried to prevent this.

Goddard said that legally there is nothing he can do about claims of price gouging. Arizona has no law against it.
Good! Leave it that way!

He and Gov. Janet Napolitano
Democrat, of course. Appointed as US Attorney general during Clinton’s “night of the long knives” for US Attorneys. Persecutor of Republican Fife Symington, the best Arizona governor in recent history, whom she drove from office with political prosecutions.

said Monday that they would push to change that when the legislative session begins in January.
Can’t keep her hands off the economy.
…
Goddard said he is investigating the complaints anyway, to help build a case for a new law against unfairly profiteering during an emergency.
Perhaps he should be studying Economics 101 instead. Arizona State University is not far from his office.

While the laws may prevent oil companies from taking advantage of consumer panic during emergencies, they also can have a downside for retailers who must pay higher wholesale prices.

“If a retailer can’t sell his fuel for what it’s worth, he may say to hell with it and not even open,” Gagliano said. “You run that risk if you demand that these guys open their stations and sell at a certain cost.”
Good for this reporter! He quotes at least one person who understands something about the free market. Even better would be a recognition that higher prices might cause people to reduce unnecessary hoarding (a rational action in a shortage, but one that increases the problem). Higher prices could lead to innovative increases in supply, such as fuel trucks coming to the area, seeking a profit by carrying fuel that the pipeline cannot carry!

Republican Rep. Joe Hart said gas prices shot up 25 cents over the past week in his hometown of Kingman even though the community gets its fuel trucked in from Las Vegas, unlike most of the state.

“That has a foul odor to it,” Hart said. “I believe in the free enterprise system, and I think the free market should prevail. But if they can cripple us like this, I think we better look it.

“I just can’t believe we just have a single source for our most valuable resource in the state.”
Notice that at least the Republican is looking at something practical, like investigating why a single pipeline failure can lead to such shortages. He didn’t even mention “gouging!”