My Republican Governor

Is Gov. Sonny Perdue playing politics or is he just showing his true interventionist stripes? Price gouging? It's called supply and demand, Governor. We are, as a result of Katrina, short on supply. You want to turn that diminished supply into no supply, cap prices and watch it happen. Simple economics. But, of course, we all know that Republicans are not really in favor of laissez-faire economics - it just plays well during the election cycle. I, for one, am ashamed to live in a state where the highest elected official so readily spews this kind of non-sense from his lips:

When you prey upon the fears and the paranoia, it is akin to looting, and it is abominable.

No, Sonny, your analogy is "abominable." There is a tremendous difference. Looters are criminals who steal and pillage from business owners when the owners are incapable of preventing the theft. Gasoline proprietors engage in a voluntary exchange with a buyer who makes a conscious and voluntary choice to initiate said exchange.

UPDATE: This is encouraging:

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is waiving state requirements for higher additive gasoline required during the summer months until September 15. Waiving this requirement will allow gasoline suppliers to bring available gasoline into Georgia to help alleviate shortages and keep prices to a minimum.

Currently, there are 33 unique special blend requirements that fluctuate from state to state - obviously no help to our limited domestic refining capabilities.