It is impossible for a company to “pass on” a cost to the consumer in the form of higher prices. As the great economist Murray Rothbard proved, taxes cannot be shifted forward (as you claim)…they can only be shifted backwards (i.e. higher costs on capital goods). Ultimately, the costs levied on companies by government inhibit production numbers in companies, they don’t increase prices. There’s a distinct difference.

Anyone in business will that the company is already charging the highest possible price that will maximize profit for the company – to otherwise would cripple production numbers or short-change investors.

Also, I take issue with your contention that companies don’t really have profits. You don’t really believe that…right?

Finally, government intervention (including taxes, restrictions, licensing, etc.) is the biggest inhibiting factor when it comes to succeeding in the business world. Our fascist, militaristic economy is rife with intervention, and the elected fools blissfully overlook that fact because they stand to benefit handsomely through intervention.

To summarize, you and Dorgan agree more than you disagree – both of you are wildly off the mark when it comes to economic analysis. It would do you some good to read anything from the Austrian School of Economics (Murray Rothbard, Ludwig Von Mises, etc.)