|
The free market has never existed, but I believe it is the ultimate goal. Humans create many barriers to this achievement because they fear what they do not understand. Communism has failed, socialism will fail. I do think everyone should read the Communist Manifesto, but please stop misinterpreting Marx and also start reading beyond him. The man was highly intellegent and a good economist, but he missed some major notions (i.e. the labor theory of value which is totally off-base). The market is inevitable. The question is how much, how soon?
The corruption that Atari speaks of might possibly be the result of a lack of ethics in modern men, but it can convincingly be attributed to the very nature of a system of government -- which is a breeding ground for favor-seeking activity. Next time you look at a regulatory statute, question what is really behind that? What companies will be granted a de facto monopoly because of the regulation? Which ones will lose out? Why is it that DuPont, the largest producer of CFCs, was also the major force behind the banning of CFCs?
I hesitated to post this because I have no time for academics and other people (many of whom are highly intelligent) that get caught-up and obsessed with utopian ideals. I don't know Atari well, but from what I gather he has either started his own business or is working in a small business environment. He understands these things while those who hide behind books and theories, never venturing out into the real world, are unable to comprehend the nature of the free market. It's easier to attack the market because it makes them feel safer.
Studying and working in the environmental field, I always find it interesting that people with a background in ecology can't see the fact that the free market is the natural way of things. They push for Nature to be left alone, and often push for economies to be controlled - a process that creates more problems than it solves. Amazing really. Anyway, it's an uphill battle for people that think like I do.
|