[andechs]

> moral but are actively ineffective at their stated purpose; they just lead to the hypothetical price-gouge transaction never occurring. If you drive across state lines to bring HAM radios or water filters or what-have-you during hurricane katrina, and try to sell at above market rate, you'll be tossed in jail and your goods will be seized by the police, rather than making it out to the people who actually need them and are willing to pay 2x or 3x the usual price.

The reason is they don't want private individuals entering danger zones just to make a buck - a profiteer could easily end up a victim from the dangerous situation.

[jtbayly]

So now emergency workers aren’t allowed to be paid. Congrats.

[Fuzzwah]

What?

"emergency workers" are not "private individuals".

[jtbayly]

The reasoning against private citizens was that taking risk to make money was inappropriate. That applies equally to emergency workers.

And by the way, many workers during emergencies are just private citizens.