Comment on this article |
View comments |
Email this Article
|
News :: Miscellaneous |
CONSUMERS DON'T BUY WAL-MART RAP ON GASOLINE LAW |
Current rating: 0 |
by Stacy Mitchell, ILSR (No verified email address) |
06 Aug 2001
|
One more instance where so-called "free trade" will harm the consumer. |
As we reported in recent issues of this Bulletin, Wal-Mart is lobbying several state legislatures to repeal laws that bar below-cost sales of gasoline. Wal-Mart is installing gas stations in the parking lots of hundreds of its superstores. By selling gas below its wholesale cost, Wal-Mart hopes to draw shoppers into its stores and eliminate independent competitors. The problem is, many states have laws that require retailers to sell gas at a minimum mark-up.
Wal-Mart wants these laws repealed and argues that they prevent consumers from getting the lowest possible price. It's an argument that has won over many state lawmakers, but, according to a recent Wisconsin poll, most voters are buying it. The survey was conducted by the Petroleum Marketers of Wisconsin, a gas station trade association. It found that 69 percent of consumers support the law and believe it preserves fair competition. More than 70 percent said that, without the law, large chains would drive independent stations out of business.
A measure to repeal the law had made it into the Wisconsin legislature's budget bill, but following the poll's release in late July, it was quietly dropped.
¨ Back issues of this newsletter: http://www.newrules.org/hta/index.htm
This originally appeared in The Home Town Advantage Bulletin (http://www.newrules.org/hta/index.htm), a bimonthly email newsletter from the New Rules Project (http://www.newrules.org) of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. |
See also:
http://www.newrules.org/hta/index.htm |
you fucked up your story |
by grammar queen (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 06 Aug 2001
|
it's aren't buying it, not are buying it. that one word completely fucks up the story. watch it, y'all. |
you fucked up your story |
by grammar queen (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 06 Aug 2001
|
it's aren't buying it, not are buying it. that one word completely fucks up the story. watch it, y'all. |
How about some constructive critizism? |
by Russ Dietrich-Rybicki (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 07 Aug 2001
|
Responding to the comment above as one who's grammatically and spellin impaired, its bad enough to make a mistake and publish it, but we certainly don't need some "Grammer Queen" using F**king language to discourage writers. Which is how I would feel if I wrote that article and read your comment. If you really don't want someone to make a mistake again how about using some politeness? Politely pointing out the mistake while encouraging future reporting. We're truely a grassroots organization and we need all the help we can get; we need to encourage each other, not tear each other down.
By the way excellent article.
Despite the media focusing on how bad "Big Government" is, small business should realise that they need government to protect them from the big companies.
(in solidarity I didn't proof-read this) |