Why do left-liberals portray libertarians as lackeys of big business when big business is anti-laissez-faire?

Answer 1

How do you figure that big business is laissez-faire? The only business I can think of that would be anti laissez-faire and accept government regulation is the health care industry in the US. Since the government has so many regulations on the health care industry, it has allowed them to inflate their prices to astronomical amounts.

Answer 2

Good question. What big business really wants is government involvement on their behalf, up to and including corporate welfare. More laissez faire type policies would discourage this type of cooperation and lead to actual competition, which is exactly what they don't want. As for your question, many people on the left (and the right for that matter) are just uninformed about the difference between corporatism and capitalism. On the other hand, many people would point to the excesses of laissez faire in the early industrial period that led to the perceived need for progressive reforms. Or were those excesses a result of corporatism rather than laissez faire? Good topic for a thesis.

Answer 3

I'll assume that's a serious question.

Libertarian philosophy --with regard to economics--is based on laisse-faire principles. And there's nothing wrong with that--in fact, philosophically, I'm in full agreement.

But an ideal in a philosophy book is one thing--the real world is an entirely different matter. And that is where the political version of "libertarians" these days fall flat on their faces. You cannot simply "wish" a true free moarket into existance. There are always some people who will try to take advantage of it--for various reasons and in various ways. And the notion that somehow "the market" will deal with that is a fantasy.

For example: (one of many): it is no secret that the oil companies have collectively "cornered the market." Just exactly how do you intend to deal with that--htey are not maintaining their position by means of fair competition. And don't give me the "but if they couldn't manipulate the government" bit. That's dodging the question.

My point is not to dump on libertarians--its to point out their blind spot: the real world is a complex and often contratictory place. And formulating workable poicy is NOT done by referring back to the pages of "Atlas Shrugged." It takes a h**l of a lot o fresearch--and it requires trade-offs to accomplish some of your goal--but you can count on not getting all of it.

Libertarians have never done the hard and often frustrating work of transforming a good philosophy int o the nuts and bolts of real world solutions and policy. And until you do--yes-the bes tyou can hope for is to be nothing more than pawns.

Answer 4

Libertarians encourage a laissez-faire market. But we do believe that there should be some form of government against force or fraud. (Excluding Anarcho-capitalists, they believe in No-government) However libertarians are not against big businesses but corporations take advantage of a market being handled by the govt and is the reason why they are as big as they are today. Because corporations are granted govt protection and corporate welfare, which pisses me off.

Also regulations do not stop corporations and it makes it harder for the smaller business to develop and bring competition to the market place (because these restrictions reflect on the smaller guys as well). Corporations have the money to keep up with profit and can pay off these restrictions and taxation, smaller businesses can not. That is the problem in today's market. Its not a form of free-market economics its a form of socialism and corporatism and a big reason why many corporations have the power they have now.
But yet when something goes wrong, capitalism and free-market advocates get blamed for it.
Here this guy is more informative then I am:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ACg745CtI

Answer 5

The big flaw in your question centers on the fact that the term 'left liberal' is reactionary right wing radio construct. There is no 'left' left in US politcs. To the ditto-heads, everyone 'not them' is some kind of left wing, socialist, commie 'liberal'. Admittedly there are a few goofy people holding a variety of goofy ideas, but these folks have zero real influence on US politics. 99% of the influence that rocks your world comes from the trans-national corporations backed by the power of a federal govenment that has their, and only their needs and desires in mind. The best that the American wage-earner has gotten from this 'corporationism' is a promise of some kind of 'trickle down' prosperity and a tiny tax decrease that's been more than eaten up by fees, inflation and other forms of taxation. The 'liberal' is just another strawman argument....a made up inside enemy similar to Emmanual Goldstein...the eternal enemy of Big Brother. Look past the propaganda...follow the money!

Answer 6

Actually -- most big business is very laissez faire -- meaning they want a free market economy without govt regulation. Because being big business, they control more of the market -- and the only thing standing in their way is govt regulation.

And libertarians also want to avoid govt regulation.

And liberals -- at least according to the dictionary definition of the term -- also support laissez fair.

So -- by the definition of the terms -- all three groups should support free market economy (laissez faire) -- meaning that if one or more isn't -- somebody is making up definitions and ignoring the dictionary meaning of words.

Answer 7

Trouble is we don't truly have a free market. That's what the so-called liberals of today fail to understand. There is a collusion between corporations and government through regulatory practices that prevent competition, innovation and lower prices. If you're out of work, can you suddenly hire yourself out as a cab service - (if you have a good car) - right away without any hassle? No. Even if you're honest, give people good value, and maybe treats (like the Hampton Jitney), you would still get into trouble with some regulatory agency due to not having a 'license'. And would you believe that the kids of today in some parts of the country can not have the traditional lemonade or cookie stand without some kind of permit? The same thing goes for yard sales and garage sales.
Another thing....the so-called liberals of today are just as bad as the people they criticize. They would like to expand government further to control what we can eat or put into our bodies 'for our own good'. They too are against civil liberties and free choice. Case in point: the extreme animal rights activists who would love to outlaw hunting, circuses, the eating of meat and convert all citizens to the vegan lifestyle. In short, extremists are dangerous to everybody, whether they are left-leaning or right-leaning. Both sides want to use government to forcibly bring about their vision of a just or 'utopian' society.

Answer 8

Libertarians are true liberals, or as modern liberals would call them "classical liberals." I am not really sure that Liberals ever cared enough about Libertarians to portray them as anything, but I imagine most businessmen are laissez- faire. If they are not they going against their own interests.

Answer 9

Why should I press one for english to answer your question? People are people,not parties

Answer 10

liberals