Economic Freedom?
Mar 1, 2011 Political
I’ve heard people claim that America is the “land of the free.” I’ve even heard them say, “At least we have economic freedom.” Well, not really. Certainly not according to Bronx City Councilman James Vacca. You see, Mr. Vacca says:
They’re obligated to be in sync with surrounding gasoline prices in the immediate community.
In other words, you, as a person who invests your time and money in a business; a person who takes the risk with your capital and resources; you who can buy things that people want; have no right to determine how much money you will make. Your profits are, according to Mr. Vacca, supposed to be exactly what Mr. Vacca says that they should be, and not one dime more. Because, of course, if everyone else raises their prices with you, then you would be guilty of collusion.
Mr. Vacca hates freedom, plain and simple. The fact that there are other gas stations just blocks away with lower prices, instead of satisfying Mr. Vacca, infuriates him. Mr. Vacca gets to decide what everyone should pay for gas, and he doesn’t give a damn how much it costs the gas station owner to obtain that gas. So according to Mr. Vacca, you are not free to buy and sell things in America — at least not without getting his personal permission and approval of your profit margin.
Oh, and keep in mind — as the gas prices rise and people start again complaining about the “obscene profits” made on gas — the entity that makes the MOST “profit,” by far, on each gallon of gas sold is the government. The average gas station in America earns 2.7 cents per gallon of gas sold. On average, the government makes 45.9 cents per gallon sold.
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Tags: economics 101, freedom