| | Donald wrote:
"I second that notion, only the quote I would have chosen to illustrate the evil is:
In times of emergency we as a country have an obligation to help take care of those who are most vulnerable."
That't the line that caught me. Very Taggart.
I've been thinking about this, and have been conflicted about my own view. I was called out on the previous thread for using the term "people before profit", which is, yes, a fuzzy concept. I think I've reconciled my feelings on this. To sell something at a lower price than market value may be benevolence on the part of the seller in light of the crisis, if he even sells it at all as opposed to simply giving away supplies. What it is, in essence, is charity. If a business owner does this, I won't fault him for being a bad businessman as long as it's not self-sacrificial.
If a customer is fortunate enough to find such a charitable businessman, good for them. But to demand it through laws is tantamount to theft. The person caught in a crisis can recieve charity though reliefs supplies or lower prices, but they should acknowledge the fact that it is charity. That's why people prepare in good times, when prices are low and product plentiful. The businessman has a responsibility to keep his products in stock to run a successful business; we would not excuse him for stealing from his suppliers in order to stay in business. He is a customer as well. In a crisis, there are those who give charitably without coercion, businesses should not be required to sacrifice themselves.
(Edited by Joe Maurone
on 9/26, 8:23pm)
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