What is Digg?4 Comments
- fastpenguin, on 06/27/2008, -0/+10We need more articles like this to teach some economic sense to common Joe. Good stuff. ;)
- CurtHowland, on 06/27/2008, -0/+5In a free market, monopoly can only exist if the monopolist serves their customers better than anyone else. Without government interference, there is no artificial barrier to entry.
Yes, there is evil. In an environment of voluntary cooperation (as compared to government force), someone who is evil poisons their own relationships. They lose reputation, people cease dealing with them.
It is only in a coercive situation where evil can flourish, where the corrupt gain power, where people cannot "take their business elsewhere".
So while everything you say is true, an environment of regulation by government can only make the problem worse. - gadsden74, on 07/01/2008, -0/+0@ CurtHowland. I understand. The state, itself, is the aggressor in this case and in most cases, and has, in fact, supported monopolies via regulation. I'm not arguing in defense of the state, but in defense of the consumer. So long as there is choice, there is no need for barriers.
That being said, I cannot but question that such a society would presuppose an intellectually sound people with a common morality. While it could be argued that without the state such an environment would be the case out of necessity, the current state of affairs is one of mistrust even of one's own neighbour, let alone a large well-to-do business. Given that, cooperation (or coopetition) is difficult to achieve. - gadsden74, on 06/27/2008, -0/+0This is very good. In fact, this something that could be used from elementary to college level. Thanks.
My only concern, though, is what about the 'strong man' factor? Whether it is the state or a central bank, there is the existence of evil and potential for monopoly.
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