Changing gas prices accordingly to citizen travel frequency

In this argument, I will further show why my opponent's points are incorrect, and why government regulation of gas prices would not be necessary. I will now refute his points. "This will only result with the government or gas companies learning less profit." Less profit than what? This was never specified. However, that being said, it is part of the natural cycle for gasoline for the price and output to decrease during the winter, as demand is decreased. "Considering the law of demand (as price increases the demand decreases...) it is most reasonable for gas prices to not decrease in the winter but to actually stay relatively high. This statement is simply a result of a misunderstanding of the law of demand. The law of demand states that when the price of a good rises, the amount demanded falls, and when the price falls, the amount demanded rises (1). There is a fundamental difference between demand and amount demanded. Amount demanded refers to how of a good consumers are willing to buy at any given price level. Demand, however, refers to total willingness to buy. The law of demand uses price and amount demanded as the only two variables. However, when the seasons change, the demand shifts, as willingness to spend on gasoline increases as desire to travel increases. When it is winter, the demand decreases, which lowers the price and the amount demanded at that price. So essentially, the price would decrease during the winter. It is not, in fact, more reasonable to assume that price for gasoline would stay high during the winter. "Eventually gas stations have to compensate for the loss of profit" Gas stations don't exactly make much from their gasoline sales. They only take in between seven and ten cents per gallon sold, and those seven to ten cents aren't all profit. They mostly go towards expenses, leaving the gas stations with only a few cents of profit per gallon sold (2). So essentially, the gas stations already get the bulk of their profits from the convenience stores. The gasoline is not so much a money maker for the gas station as something that brings people to their convenience stores. So essentially, compensation is not an issue. "Now if the prices increased during winter, the gas station will have more profit, not necessarily negating the need to compensate, but will make it ever so slightly less costly for them" I am assuming that my opponent is referring to artificially changing the gas prices to increase during the winter, as naturally the prices would decrease during the winter. However, through government regulation, the only ways that government could make the gas prices high would be by shifting the supply curve. The government would have to regulate to decrease the supply of gasoline, which would raise prices. However, as these regulations would do nothing about the demand of the consumers, the quantity demanded for gasoline would be decreased. Essentially, a raise in prices does not necessarily mean a raise in profit for the gas stations. Now onto my own statements. Now, the rest of his rebuttal does not address or further his resolution that government should regulate gas prices accordingly to citizen seasonal travels. He has simply stated that gas prices should be increased during the winter, and he then stated a bunch of unwarranted facts about the economics behind gasoline. In fact, he has not once in his Round 2 argument even mentioned the words “regulate” or “regulation,” which shows that he has not furthered his arguments according to the resolution in any way. As he is arguing for a change, that government should regulate gas prices accordingly to citizen seasonal travels, he has burden of proof, and yet, he has not shown why government regulation would actually be necessary. In order to win this debate, he needs to do this. I have shown that government regulation is not necessary to change gas prices according to seasonal travels, as gas prices already change according to the demand of the consumers, and what the consumers are willing to pay. I thank my opponent, and look forward to his response. Sources: 1.http://www.econlib.org... 2.http://money.cnn.com...