How is it a false dichotomy? Price gouging would show up on the P&L it's very easy to demonstrate. Citing unnamed newspapers and 'common knowlege' doesn't demo

How is it a false dichotomy? Price gouging would show up on the P&L it's very easy to demonstrate. Citing unnamed newspapers and 'common knowlege' doesn't demonstrate anything, or inspire confidence. Petrol stations tend not to be very profitable. Not knowing where you are I can't say whether you're the exception. But as petrol is fungible, unless you're accusing them of collusion or something I don't see how they could price gouge. Same with refineries. So that just leaves the oil drillers. You have got OPEC and stuff, but the average non opec oil drillers have the choice of selling at the market rate or not at all. And I'm not sure how selling at the market rate, be that for massive profits, or a loss is price gouging. Unless you want to devalue the term.