ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (04/18/84)
There is a problem with the following argument:
It is clear to me that merchants have a cost in dealing
with credit card companies, and if they want to
pass it through, it seems like their right, although
I enjoy the convenience of a credit card.
If you're talking about rights, what about the right of a credit
card company to make whatever contractual agreements with retailers
to which they can both agree? In other words, if I am a credit
card company, shouldn't I have the right to insist that I will only
do business with retailers who agree not to pass my fees on to their
customers?
Unfortunately, we're not talking about rights here, we're talking
about politics. One gang wants to prohibit retailers from surcharging
credit card purchases, even if it's OK with the retailer AND the
card company (i. e. infringement of the right of free contract),
and the other gang wants to allow the retailer to add a surcharge,
even if the card company does not want it (i. e. infringement of the
right of free contract).
Thus do our rights get eroded away by our "protectors."