Do you support a total free market economy or free market economy with federal regulations, why, why not?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Updates

+1 y

I think a free market economy with federal strict regulations is best especially when essential items and well-being i. e housing, healthcare, water, food, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and clothing are involved.

Anything else besides those key essentials I'm for total free market.

[RealMarek]

One can balance a large pole that is perfectly upright with the gentlest force, but if the pole leans even a little bit it requires much greater force to keep it upright. The only way anything approaching an unregulated market can work for the greatest good is if a society has been well ordered through generations of effective rule, a common set of moral beliefs and stigmatization of those who depart from the common morality, and a strong tradition of law. These circumstances existed in Great Britain, the US, and some parts of Europe before and through most of the 1800s. These conditions no longer exist in the West. In fact, the government, law, information organs, education system, and bureaucracy have been subverted by a rapacious elite. A hands-off, libertarian approach to government, even if it were possible, will simply result in the current elite running wild and manipulating procedural outcomes to continue hoarding wealth and power to themselves. We need a strong man to restore order, protect the common people, and clear out our rotten elite.

[Effably]

I feel that notions of a free market and the associated benefits are as much of a pipe dream as communism, anarchy or alike.

The latter two assume that people are inherently good or sensible. The former lists benefits that will only truly apply at the start and gradually wear off and disappear completely.

If we leave the theory aside a regulated market is better and ultimately unavoidable. Even if only to protect the freedom of the market to operate absent lawless behaviour a degree of regulation is needed, and honestly a lot of base needs require some protection from an otherwise free market. Few things as inelastic as what we need to survive.

[Alwayreckles93]

I know this has nothing to do with the question but is it true that buying things in consignment store or Goodwill isn't good idea because it has bad spirit and you bring those to the house?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

No..

[letuswaltzforthedead]

I dont there can be a totally free economy since people will still want to place some rules on companies. Even if there's no government, the people will still demand it.

[PenkWing]

Unregulated market leads to inequalities, inefficient allocation, and long term unsustainability. It will crush the people, the environment, and eventually the system itself.

Whatever is the best way to regulate is an open question. One rule of thumb is: if personal freedoms are jeopardized in order to enable a market freedom, then it's not a good idea. It will bite back, and people will suffer meanwhile.

If this means that some areas of the productive system must be nationalized then so be it. A fully decentralized laissez-faire market is an ideological goal that has no moral value in itself.

[TroyDT2]

One of the big problems with government regulations is that they adopt "one-size-fits-all" rules. George McGovern spoke about it after leaving the Senate, when he had a business that failed not because of finances of poor planning, but because regulations made it too costly.

Another problem is the limits upon liability that occur under Corporatism. Under a total free market, liability would not be limited so if Merck, for example, caused $10B in damages, it would pay $10B, not some artificially lowered amount less than 1% of the actual damages.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Regulations are a must especially on essential items.

[NewsReader]

There have to be some basic regulations or else there would be chaos and other problems. Imagine if there was no police and no laws criminal laws. People would be killing each other over simple things because there would be no legal consequences. So there have to be some basic regulations.

[andreasderjuengere]

A reasonably free market with exclusion of ''marketing'', ''advertising'' or ''sponsoring'' ... I could be ok with that.

As long as schools teach kids early about the traps of consumerism and the ethical consequences of greed.

[AviatorTom]

Totally free markets with no regulations don't work. Some level of meaningful regulations is the way to go.

[007kingifrit]

a free market is a purely academic idea, a real one can never exist just like real communism can never exist. I support a mostly free market but I want monopoly broken up and some laws and regulations are needed... but not too many.

[IceCreamSandwich]

Yeah free market doesn't work without *some* oversight.

[FilmGuy93]

regulate it! I would so much rather have higher taxes and prices if it means a more ethical economy than deregulation and lower prices.

[exitseven]

A free market economy but there has to be regulations to prevent harmful products put on the market.

[Anonymous]

With federal regulations? Yes. I believe in laissez-faire as much as the next capitalist. But I do think we still need gov't oversight for the instances that crop up when the free market is unable or UNWILLING to Regulate itself.

[collie22]

corporations do try to create monopolies to conduct there corporate greed , i guess that's the bad side to a free market

[Jamie05rhs]

I support regulations. Otherwise, companies will just do whatever they want to do with no regards for public safety or worker's rights.

[ericclayton]

Human nature negates libertarianism. There has to be some sort of oversight.

[BJP21]

If it helps people who dont have access to basic needs. YES I support it.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Healthcare should not be a for-profit industry

[Pterodon]

Free market because I don’t want government in my life

[Shamalien]

Yes. Screw regulations