Socialism?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Kentucky town opens retail filling station,
is criticized as promoting socialism

By BRUCE SCHREINER
The Washington Post

SOMERSET, Ky. — City hall ventured into the retail gas business Saturday, opening a municipal-run filling station that supporters call a benefit for motorists and critics denounce as a taxpayer-supported swipe at the free market.

The Somerset Fuel Center opened to the public selling regular unleaded gas for $3.36 a gallon, a bit lower than some nearby competitors. In the first three hours, about 75 customers fueled up at the no-frills station, where there are no snacks, no repairs and only regular unleaded gas.

The mayor says the station was created in response to years of grumbling by townspeople about stubbornly high gas prices in Somerset, a city of about 11,000 near Lake Cumberland, a popular fishing and boating haven.

The venture got a thumbs-up from customers who let their vehicles reach near-empty in anticipation of the city-run station’s opening.

“I’m tickled to death that they’re trying to do something,” Ed Bullock said as he filled up his car. “I’m glad they made the investment.”

The venture unnerved local filling station and convenience store operators suddenly competing with the city in this Republican stronghold. Critics said the government has no business injecting itself into the private sector, and one store owner branded it as socialism.

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[BillB]

I would call it socialism.

[Kiamichi]

What else could it be called?

[Grassman]

Ok, where does it stop? City run grocery stores, city run retail stores?