> I think there is more than "large profit" at work here when people talk about disaster profiteers. There is a critical other element: some reasonable equalit

> I think there is more than "large profit" at work here when people talk about disaster profiteers. There is a critical other element: some reasonable equality of distribution of supplies in emergencies. The persons selling at a large profit are distributing gear to those who can pay the most, which inherently leaves those to drown that can't compete on price. In an emergency like this, ideally per capita NYC should get the same supplies as Buffalo NY (or Detroit, or Baltimore), assuming they are hit similarly per capita by the virus, despite NYC being far wealthier and able to outbid on gear. Properly in an emergency like this, a life in Detroit should have the same value as one in NYC. Rich vs poor distribution is questionable in a game like Major League Baseball, big market teams vs small market teams, and it's morally horrendous to observe when it's poorer people (and healthcare systems) in Buffalo competing versus richer people in NYC for medical gear (not meant to represent an actual scenario playing out now). That's of course very hard to level as a playing field, unless it's the Federal Government stepping in and doing the leveling to ensure some equality of supplies.