Does this country need more political solutions? Or more unbridled capitalism?

Question

It is remarkable how many political "solutions" today are dealing with problems created by previous political "solutions." Three examples that come to mind immediately are the housing market crisis, the wildfires in southern California, and the water shortages in the west.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2007/10/30/political_solutions

freedem...funny you use an example about a burgler....thats how I feel every time I look at my pay check and see the tax's taken out...

Answer 1

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies."

- Groucho Marx

Answer 2

We mostly need solutions to the problems caused by unaccountable capitalism.

In our current situation there are many cases that should be criminal that are not even discussed much less fixed.

By stealing from the public commons, and putting the (many times severe) costs back on the public, it is possible for a Gang Of Pirates to get very wealthy, but that wealth is what is stolen from everyone around them, not any productivity on their own part.

As well the wealth may be less than the value that was started with, but they do not care as they got the gold and gave everyone else the shaft.

If a burgler gets into your house and steals a thousand dollar television, then sells it for a hundred, then he is happy to get $100 for no cost. He would squeal about excess government intervention as the cops hauled him away, though I suppose you would not approve of how he got his wealth.

But when a Corporation does the same in a more complicated manner, stealing Billions from people separately and collectively, somehow folk like TownHall think that is just fine.

Re : Taxes = theft
Your Comment is an excellent example of this study
http://patternsthatconnect.blogspot.com/2006/03/rightwing-authoritarianism-and.html
Patterns:: Rightwing Authoritarianism and Conservative Identity Politics

Edit: More examples of the horrors of lack of regulation.
How many people should die for each time someone cheats.
http://iht.com/articles/2007/10/31/asia/31chemical.php?page=1
Chinese chemicals flow unchecked to market -

Answer 3

Better examples of unbridled capitalism are

- Increasing numbers of tainted foods caused by unfilled government food inspector positions coupled with reliance on self-inspections by food producers.

- Un-inspected foreign consumer products containing lead in children's toys

- Predatory consumer loans wreaking harm on the economy and the public.

We need the regulatory agencies put back to their proper strength and abusive business practices outlawed.

Answer 4

Adam Smith envisioned the invisible hand that will enact change where it needs to happen.

If tainted foods enter the market, eventually people will stop buying it. The result: Competitors admit non-tainted foods to the market, so that the consumer will buy it.

Monopolies: As long as a monopoly does good business, it deserves to stick around. But if it starts screwing over the consumer, eventually a competitor will rise to meet the needs of their estranged constituency.

You can't fool the market, at least not forever. The consumer, by acting in their own self-interest, will make happen what needs to happen, and the government should for the most part stay out of it.

Answer 5

Capitalism will not work everything out in time.
As a capitalist I am not ignorant to the occasional need of Governmental intervention.
If this was not the case we would have monopolies by giant corporations.
We would have huge pollution problems
We would have terrible working conditions in many dangerous jobs
we would have terrible eating conditions in many restaurants
we would have out of control drug companies selling things that would be extremely dangerous.

Answer 6

It is the Gang Of Pirates Vs America
The Gang Of Pirates are aboutspecial interest America is about public interest
The Gang Of Pirates are about a rigged game America is about level playing field
The Gang Of Pirates are about exploitation America is about stewardship
The Gang Of Pirates are about aristocracy America is about meritocracy
The Gang Of Pirates are about selfishness America is about generosity
The Gang Of Pirates are about privilege America is about justice
The Gang Of Pirates are about self-serving America is about self-sufficient
The Gang Of Pirates are about reckless America is about responsibility
The Gang Of Pirates are about money America is about people
The Gang Of Pirates are about ownership America is about creativity
The Gang Of Pirates are about secret deals America is about fair processes

There was more today of the joys of unaccountable capitalism

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/30/1341203
Democracy Now! | Gap, Mattel, Speedo, Wal-Mart Products Linked to Child and Sweatshop Labor in China and India
Mattel was getting waivers from the government of China to pay below the legal minimum wage in China, as pitiful as it is...
So the packaging, the materials, the accessories, the direct labor -- indirect labor, profit to the factory in China, the total cost of production is $9. So that means Mattel and the other companies are marking this up by $20.99. That’s a 233% markup.....
So we know that Mattel spent $3.45 to advertise this toy. You know what they paid the workers to make it? Less than nineteen cents

Answer 7

Capitalism will work everything out in time.


If you build in a fire harazd, or flood zone you are pretty much going to lose you house why be surprised when it happens.

If CA isn't going to manage their forest they are going to have fires.

I think what is needed in the USA is common sense and the solutions are generally that simple.

Answer 8

Good question! Unbridled capitalism!

Answer 9

Both would be very nice.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 10

More freedom and less government interference of all kinds.