[Moonbase-discuss] Re: Vol 1 #22 - Unfettered free enterprise

[Randall Clague]

On Tue, 14 May 2002 22:18:34 -0400, JonAlexandr@aol.com wrote:

>I'm not condemning capitalism (if that's what you really mean), but like=
 any system
>in a democracy, there should be checks and balances.  Whatever =
complaints one
>may have about government interference, our government is supposed to be=
 a
>democracy.

Well, close.  A representative republic, which is supposed to be more
resistant than pure democracy to the "tyranny of the masses."  I think
tyranny is a misnomer here - idiocy is better - but anyway, the
ability of the masses in a pure democracy to make sweeping changes
with little reflection or wisdom.  Prohibition is the best example I
know.

Of course, the war on drugs is an example of just the opposite;
conservative politicians keep it going, even though it isn't working
and can't work.  America waging war on a market driven system?  Hello?
Sigh...

>But I maintain that "unfettered free enterprise" IS a cancer, just like =
unfettered
>mitosis is a cancer.

A month ago, I would have agreed with you, at least that that
potential existed.  But my libertarian friends tell me America has
never had unfettered free enterprise, so we don't know what the
effects are.  Though it seems to me poverty is the price we're paying
for capitalism, and I don't care for poverty.

I do not have a solution, but I greatly admire the problem.  Concord
abstains, courteously.

-R

--
"You told him about the statue?
I can't believe you told him about the statue."
                     -- William T. Riker