San Antonio gives Chow Train owner a ticket for feeding the homeless

[CosmicCowboy]

Packaging doesn't really matter. The critters are already on the food and just dormant because of the storage temperature.

[spursncowboys]

Packaging doesn't really matter. The critters are already on the food and just dormant because of the storage temperature.

Well it seems to work fine in all the other cities.

[Slutter McGee]

You might as well include the entire paragraph. You wouldn't want to be accused of cherry-picking...

This makes a lot of sense from a rational economic point of view — and it makes people totally furious. It turns out that people are OK with fluctuating prices when it’s really an impersonal market — but they get really angry at any hint that someone with whom they have some sort of ongoing relationship is exploiting their distress. In fact, Uber’s surge pricing is really bad public relations, and I won’t be surprised to see the company modify its strategy if only for marketing purposes.

It really doesn't make any difference. Krugman recognizes that its not an issue economically, only a public relations issue thanks to politicians using it as political ammo. It really does sound bad and people just get pissed off as individuals. But on the aggregate price gouging is a good thing. He knows that. Dude is a ing genius....has some ed up political beliefs, but still a genius.

ter McGee

[ElNono]

It really doesn't make any difference. Krugman recognizes that its not an issue economically, only a public relations issue thanks to politicians using it as political ammo. It really does sound bad and people just get pissed off as individuals. But on the aggregate price gouging is a good thing. He knows that. Dude is a ing genius....has some ed up political beliefs, but still a genius.

I don't disagree that makes economic sense in a vacuum, but as he also points out, economic decisions rarely exist in a vacuum in the real world, that's how you end up with things like loss-leaders and all sorts of market distortions to prop up other areas (marketing, dividends, etc), and a lot of those distortions are not government induced.

IIRC, the only laws against price gouging include some sort of civilian emergency attached to them.

Also, I don't think I would call what Uber does "price gouging"... unless it's indeed during some sort of civilian emergency situation.

[Slutter McGee]

I don't disagree that makes economic sense in a vacuum, but as he also points out, economic decisions rarely exist in a vacuum in the real world, that's how you end up with things like loss-leaders and all sorts of market distortions to prop up other areas (marketing, dividends, etc), and a lot of those distortions are not government induced.

IIRC, the only laws against price gouging include some sort of civilian emergency attached to them.

Also, I don't think I would call what Uber does "price gouging"... unless it's indeed during some sort of civilian emergency situation.

I understand your point, But I disagree. When Uber raised prices in Australia during the possible hostage/terrorist crap everybody freaked out. It may not be "price gouging" but even in civilian emergencies it is still a stupid policy to go after them.

I will give you an example. After Katrina, some dude bought a few generators and drove them down to Louisiana where he sold them for way more than their value elsewhere. Everybody freaked out and got pissed at him for trying to "profit at other's misery" and eventually he was prosecuted for it.

So what if only rich people buy from him. That is rich people who don't use resources designed from poor people. If its legal then eventually others start bringing generators down trying to make a profit. More and more goods end up in an area that needs them. Eventually, as more goods come into the area, compe ion starts to take hold, and prices drop. Anti price gouging laws are the dumbest thing next to rent control.

Liberal or Conservative....almost no economists disagree. Including Krugman. But he does recognize other affects. I don't disagree. Still doesn't mean it is good policy.

ter McGee

[ElNono]

I understand your point, But I disagree. When Uber raised prices in Australia during the possible hostage/terrorist crap everybody freaked out. It may not be "price gouging" but even in civilian emergencies it is still a stupid policy to go after them.

I will give you an example. After Katrina, some dude bought a few generators and drove them down to Louisiana where he sold them for way more than their value elsewhere. Everybody freaked out and got pissed at him for trying to "profit at other's misery" and eventually he was prosecuted for it.

So what if only rich people buy from him. That is rich people who don't use resources designed from poor people. If its legal then eventually others start bringing generators down trying to make a profit. More and more goods end up in an area that needs them. Eventually, as more goods come into the area, compe ion starts to take hold, and prices drop. Anti price gouging laws are the dumbest thing next to rent control.

Liberal or Conservative....almost no economists disagree. Including Krugman. But he does recognize other affects. I don't disagree. Still doesn't mean it is good policy.

I agree anti-price gauging laws make absolutely no sense in pure economic terms. That said, civilian emergencies implicitly include a demand or supply shock. What you describe is building a market, and it's difficult to ascertain you can safely do that during an emergency, especially on the most sought after items. There's already looting, panic, even martial law in some cases. This is why laws against price gouging are directly tied to police power to preserve order.

[Slutter McGee]

I agree anti-price gauging laws make absolutely no sense in pure economic terms. That said, civilian emergencies implicitly include a demand or supply shock. What you describe is building a market, and it's difficult to ascertain you can safely do that during an emergency, especially on the most sought after items. There's already looting, panic, even martial law in some cases. This is why laws against price gouging are directly tied to police power to preserve order.

I plan on making a rational intelligent response...but I have now been drinking all day in anticipation of a certain spurs game. So I will answer you on this subject tomorrow.

ter McGee

[boutons_deux]

How Uber surge pricing really works


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...adlines&wpmm=1

[Nbadan]

Crowd Funding...

http://www.gofundme.com/chowtraindonation