approval from:
viperlmw 
| Ugh... I'm so tired of hearing how so called free market economic policies are better for the consumer and that somehow Govt. intervention of any kind is always anti-consumer. Well, from where I sit as a consumer the so called free market economy has made things worse for me (increasing rates, less competition and deteriorating customer service). While it sounds nice in theory, IMO free market economic policies only benefit one group of people in this country, the rich and powerful. Such policies enable them to manipulate things more to their favor so that they can become even more rich and powerful. |
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jaminus
join:2004-10-14
Arlington, VA | You miss one key point--the "rich and powerful" use government all the time to prevent entry and stifle competition.
The problem isn't that we have too little government, but rather far too much of it.. In a genuine free market, one without artificial entry barriers and tightly regulated business practices, we might actually have some genuine competition. Unfortunately, every time somebody says "we need a new law," corporations think of ways to use that law to enhance profits at the expense of freedom.
Having trouble besting a competitor? Brand them a "natural monopoly" and push the FTC to stop them from getting any bigger.
Worried about your business model falling behind? Easy. Make up some public interest rhetoric so the FCC will encumber the airwaves with rules that benefit your bottom line. |
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Reviews:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| said by jaminus: In a genuine free market, one without artificial entry barriers and tightly regulated business practices, we might actually have some genuine competition. And therein lies the problem. We have no free markets. All markets are under control of the rich and powerful. Sometimes they use Government as a tool, sometimes why use other means, but no real competition is possible. To have free markets we would have to severely restrain the ability of the rich and powerful to control the markets. So, IMHO, the Free Market is just an illusion. |
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