Pretty interesting short essay by Tim Bray (smart guy and co-creator of XML) on The Free Market. Pretty much sums up my feelings on why the free market works, but also why it's necessary to have a government "with a gun" around to make sur

[Ishamael]

<div style='font: 14pt "Sans Serif"; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '><b>Link:</b> <a href="http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/Biz">http: ... ing/Biz</a>

Pretty interesting short essay by Tim Bray (smart guy and co-creator of XML) on The Free Market. Pretty much sums up my feelings on why the free market works, but also why it's necessary to have a government "with a gun" around to make sure it works....</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>I'll get to the article itself later, but a government with a gun around - government regulation and intervention - is NOT the free market. If you think that is necessary, you are not a proponent of a true free market.</div>

[Ishamael]

<div style='font: 14pt "Sans Serif"; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>I'm most definitely NOT a proponent of a "true" Free Market (ie, zero regulations) for exactly the reasons he mentioned. We had something kind of like that and we ended up with companies like Standard Oil and the robber barons of the 19th century...</div>

[ManaMan]

<div style='font: 12pt Arial; text-align: left; '>I agree. Regulated capitalism is the best system... but it does lead to corrupted government. Businesses simply see government regulations as "obstacles" they can avoid through lobbying and campaign "donations".</div>

[ManaMan]

<div style='font: 12pt Arial; text-align: left; '>I agree. Regulated capitalism is the best system... but it can lead to corrupted government.  Some Businesses just see government regulations as "obstacles" they can avoid through lobbying and campaign "donations".</div>

[SineSwiper]

<div style='font: 11pt "EngraversGothic BT", "Copperplate Gothic Light"; text-align: left; '><img src="http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/HighGas ... ger714.gif">

And for that, I bring you another political comic...</div>

[SineSwiper]

<div style='font: 11pt "EngraversGothic BT", "Copperplate Gothic Light"; text-align: left; '>Blah, the "Free Market" is a false god to pray on, and a weapon used to prey on the weak.</div>