Free Market

Who here is for it and who is against it?

Why?

Does it work?

What is better?

Is america so far away from it?

Can the free market be the answer to our economic down fall?

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:
Who here is for it and who is against it?

Against it.

Why?

A pure free market inevitably leads to rule by a few wealthy corporations who are free to exploit the people. There is nothing to protect the worker, and nothing to protect society from unethical practices.

Does it work?

Sure it works for some people. Any system works for some people.

What is better?

A largely free market with some select regulations.

Is america so far away from it?

America is closer to it than a command economy.

Can the free market be the answer to our economic down fall?

NO.

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:
Who here is for it and who is against it?

For.

Why?

Moral (freedom, nonviolence) and pragmatic (it is very efficient) reasons.

Does it work?

What does "work" mean???

What is better?

What is better than what???

Is america so far away from it?

Far relative to most other countries in the world, no. Distance is relative.

Can the free market be the answer to our economic down fall?

It was not the reason. It is the solution.

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:
Who here is for it and who is against it?

For it, but I know that the free market needs regulations to protect consumers and businesses aike.

Why?

Because I feel that the best way for people to make the most of their lives is to have control over the financial aspects as well. As well, competition is the best way for the economy, technology and everything else to progress. But those that abuse the market, the consumers, and other competitors should face punishment, and guarantees need to be put in place in order to make sure it doesn't happen.

Does it work?

Absolutely. Basically all world economies are based on the idea of the free market, and have so far done well. Some countries though either keep too little restrictions on it that allow it to run rampant, and others control it to the point where it the benefits are cancelled out. It is important to find the balanc inbetween, depending upon the situation and time, in order for the free market to work.

What is better?

A free market is better in a lot of circumstances, but it really depends on exactly what you want to happen. A free market is better for people who believe that individuals should have the opportunity to make of their lives what they will, and that businesses can play an important role in society and country, even if there are those that lose out for whatever reason.

A controlled market is better if you believe that individuals shouldn't make money at the expense of those that won't, and that private business is more detrimental than beneficial in most, if not all, regards.

I'm probably somewhere inbetween, though I'm more pro-free market - I'm just not naive enough to believe that businesses will always play by the rules, and that consumers and businesses hould have to protect themselves alone.

Is america so far away from it?

If you're a free market purist, where you believe that a market isn't free until the government is out of everything, then yes. If you're sensible about it, no. Contrary to popular belief, the Obama administration, along with other administrations, have provided a very free market in the United States, where competition is rife and regulation is low. This doesn't mean though that there isn't room for improvement, both in the sense that the government has failed to protect consumers and businesses, and that the government has failed to provide some of the best opportunities for a free market to prosper.

Can the free market be the answer to our economic down fall?

The free market in fact helped create the economic "down fall," which frankly doesn't exist. The fact that markets are so open to competition has allowed American jobs to be withered away, and a lack of response on the party of both businesses and the government has continued this. The lack of oversight has also allowed companies to abuse their consumers, and created this mess we're in today.

But that is just the risk that occurs. What is important is that there is a government and a base there to react - which is why I don't believe the whole "the market will correct itself" excuse. It may, but what about those that are left out in the cold in the meantime? Let them eat cake, eh?

At 10/28/2009 10:20:05 PM, Volkov wrote:

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:

Volkov:

I agree.... with everything you wrote....
wow

everything

At 10/28/2009 10:23:12 PM, comoncents wrote:

At 10/28/2009 10:20:05 PM, Volkov wrote:

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:

Volkov:

I agree.... with everything you wrote....
wow

everything

I'm a very agreeable person.

Vote theLwerd/Volkov... 2010?

lol. I'm probably the most Anti-"Free Market" person here. Worker's collectivisation ftw! :D

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:
Who here is for it and who is against it?

Everyone who knows anything about economy is for a free market. Planned economy has failed, and there is not one serious economist that is for planned economy any longer.

Why?

Firstly because it works, and secondly because it is an unavoidable result of the freedom of the individual.

Does it work?

Yes.

What is better?

Nothing.

Is america so far away from it?

Nah. It's protectionist and regulated the banking industry too much. Otherwise the US is pretty OK

Can the free market be the answer to our economic down fall?

Answer to? The free market is pretty much the reason for us having an economy in the first place. :)

At 10/28/2009 10:00:41 PM, JBlake wrote:
A pure free market inevitably leads to rule by a few wealthy corporations who are free to exploit the people. There is nothing to protect the worker, and nothing to protect society from unethical practices.

Yes there is, they are called laws. You don't have to regulate markets of have central planning to avoid immorality. In fact central planning leads to corruption.

A largely free market with some select regulations.

What regulations?

At 10/28/2009 10:20:05 PM, Volkov wrote:

At 10/28/2009 9:55:47 PM, comoncents wrote:
Who here is for it and who is against it?

For it, but I know that the free market needs regulations to protect consumers and businesses aike.

Why does business need to be protected?