There is a serious problem with understanding surpluses here.
Do you really care if your monthly water bill is $1 or $5?
Think - if you're at $5 a month, I mean you could save 500% (!!) by going to another provider at $1!
No - you don't care at all. At such a low price and vast surplus (the difference between what you pay, and what it's worth to you) - other considerations are paramount.
The difference between 10 cents and 2 cents is stupid. They could be 50 cents and it would not be 'price gouging' because there's tons of surplus to go around.
If we're going to talk about 'gouging' we need to talk about the entire medical system - it's just one big massive gouge.
There basically needs to be a strategy of price regulation and sourcing, as simple as that.
A simple rule like 'must be bought and fully sourced in the US' is easy, because it still implies a lot of competition.
For some products there could be a strategic reserve, and also a strategic production capacity.
Do you really care if your monthly water bill is $1 or $5?
Think - if you're at $5 a month, I mean you could save 500% (!!) by going to another provider at $1!
No - you don't care at all. At such a low price and vast surplus (the difference between what you pay, and what it's worth to you) - other considerations are paramount.
The difference between 10 cents and 2 cents is stupid. They could be 50 cents and it would not be 'price gouging' because there's tons of surplus to go around.
If we're going to talk about 'gouging' we need to talk about the entire medical system - it's just one big massive gouge.
There basically needs to be a strategy of price regulation and sourcing, as simple as that.
A simple rule like 'must be bought and fully sourced in the US' is easy, because it still implies a lot of competition.
For some products there could be a strategic reserve, and also a strategic production capacity.
Same for the entire military supply chain.
It's time to re-think globalism.