Little-Acorn
05-09-2007, 02:11 PM
Shades of Stalinist Russia. Apparently the state of Wisconsin has a law dictating how much gas station owners must sell their products for, above wholesale prices.
Did somebody in that state, forget what the word "freedom" means?
And, so any other states have such a law?
Economic activity is the major part of most people's lives. We spend more time working to earn enough to buy housing, food, transportation, education, entertainment etc. than any other activity; plus more time doing accounting, banking, shopping etc.
And the country was founded on the idea of "freedom", meaning both freedom from criminal oppression and from government interference in our lives. The idea was, that each of us was free to make our own decisions, profit from the good ones, take the consequences of the bad ones, learn from our mistakes, and generally not have to obey orders from people we didn't sign up to listen to. The founders of the country thought it would prosper best, with such a philosophy.
"Freedom" applies to evey avenue of life. And since most of life practices economic activity, economic activity carries the bulk of freedom - or it should. It's no surprise that those who disagree with the Founders' vision of freedom, devote most of their effort to government restriction of economic activity. And worse, they are infringinng more and more on economic activity that hurts no one, violates no one's rights, and does no harm. It's worth noting that most dictatorial governments, spend the vast majority of their time restricting economic activity, banking systems, monetary policy etc.
Sounds like these anti-American-philosophy pushers have found fertile ground in Wisconsin. I wonder where else they will (or have already) reared their ugly heads?
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cheap_gas_7
Gas station owner told to raise prices
Wed May 9, 6:05 AM ET
MERRILL, Wis. - A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise its prices.
Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon.
But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price.
Bhandari said he received a letter from the state auditor last month saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his prices. The state could penalize him for each discounted gallon he sold, with the fine determined by a judge.
Bhandari, who bought the station a year ago, said he worries customers will think he stopped the discounts because he wants to make more money. About 10 percent of his customers had used the discount cards.
Dale Van Camp said he bought a $50 card to support the local youth hockey program. It would have saved him about $100 per year on gas, he said.
Did somebody in that state, forget what the word "freedom" means?
And, so any other states have such a law?
Economic activity is the major part of most people's lives. We spend more time working to earn enough to buy housing, food, transportation, education, entertainment etc. than any other activity; plus more time doing accounting, banking, shopping etc.
And the country was founded on the idea of "freedom", meaning both freedom from criminal oppression and from government interference in our lives. The idea was, that each of us was free to make our own decisions, profit from the good ones, take the consequences of the bad ones, learn from our mistakes, and generally not have to obey orders from people we didn't sign up to listen to. The founders of the country thought it would prosper best, with such a philosophy.
"Freedom" applies to evey avenue of life. And since most of life practices economic activity, economic activity carries the bulk of freedom - or it should. It's no surprise that those who disagree with the Founders' vision of freedom, devote most of their effort to government restriction of economic activity. And worse, they are infringinng more and more on economic activity that hurts no one, violates no one's rights, and does no harm. It's worth noting that most dictatorial governments, spend the vast majority of their time restricting economic activity, banking systems, monetary policy etc.
Sounds like these anti-American-philosophy pushers have found fertile ground in Wisconsin. I wonder where else they will (or have already) reared their ugly heads?
---------------------------------------------------------
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cheap_gas_7
Gas station owner told to raise prices
Wed May 9, 6:05 AM ET
MERRILL, Wis. - A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise its prices.
Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon.
But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price.
Bhandari said he received a letter from the state auditor last month saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his prices. The state could penalize him for each discounted gallon he sold, with the fine determined by a judge.
Bhandari, who bought the station a year ago, said he worries customers will think he stopped the discounts because he wants to make more money. About 10 percent of his customers had used the discount cards.
Dale Van Camp said he bought a $50 card to support the local youth hockey program. It would have saved him about $100 per year on gas, he said.