Hi Rog:
>A healthy free market system needs to be carefully nourished and
> contained to problems that it is is capable of addressing. Many social
> issues will require solutions other than free markets. On the other hand,
> "government solutions" are notorious for their tendencies to themselves
> distort free markets, and must therefore be used judiciously. Government
> factions are as prone as any other center-of-influence to abuse power to
> limit others' freedom.
I'm not sure what "social issues" you have in mind, but I think the point
needs to be emphasized that there is a vast and crucial difference
between the power of business to limit others' freedom and the police
power of government to do the same. To my knowledge, business has
not set out deliberately to solve "social issues" like governments have
been prone to do throughout history by slaughtering millions. I'm
constantly amazed at how many who profess great compassion and
"caring" and want to change the world for the better are perfectly willing
without hesitation to put a gun to their neighbor's head and say, "You
must . . ." Such willingness to use the government's monopoly on the
use of physical force at the drop of a well-intentioned hat doesn't sound
very MOQish to me. As Pirsig points out, such force is best reserved to
keep biological forces at bay.
Platt
P.S. I look forward to the weekends with more than the usual
anticipation 'cause that's when your wonderfully sensible posts are
likely to appear. (-:
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