Welcome to Friday, February 19th, umbrellas and raincoats...

With winter storms battering states from Texas to New York, officials are warning locals - and local businesses - against price gouging.

A majority of states have laws against increasing prices during federal emergencies. But should they? If you support a free-market system, why shouldn’t businesses be allowed to charge whatever price consumers are willing to pay?

Reason recently ran a piece headlined "Why Price Gouging Laws Are a Bad Idea" where John Stossel wrote:

"What politicians call 'gouging' is just supply and demand. Prices rise and fall all the time."

So...

Reparations for Black Americans

House Democrats recently held a committee hearing on a bill that would establish a commission to explore proposals for providing African-Americans with reparations for slavery.

The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties heard testimony from a panel of witnesses on the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.

The bill would establish a 13-member commission to examine slavery and discrimination in the original colonies and in the U.S. to the present day, lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and society, and recommend appropriate remedies. The commission would be funded with $12 million to carry out its research.

The legislation has been introduced in each Congress since 1989, and while House Democrats held a hearing on it during the last Congress on Juneteenth, they did not vote on the bill in committee or on the floor.

Should a commission examine ways to provide reparations to Black Americans?

The Rock 2024

Can you smell what The Rock is...legislating? Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the former wrestler-turned movie star, told USA Today that he would consider a presidential run.

Do you want to see The Rock on your ballot?

And, In The End...

On this date in 1985, the world tasted "the first major entry into a whole new category: cherry-flavored sodas."

It's also National Tartar Sauce Day, but I would not recommend combining the two,

—Josh Herman

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