A "caveat emptor" society is good for economy, agree?

[lightbulb27]

Caveat Emptor - "let the buyer beware".

We put it on our Govt to protect us. But common... you know they don't and they are warped by the industries that live off of the bad choices of others.

If you undestand the above, you understand USA... how we've progressed to where we are today and can see the greater picture of challenges.

If you do not, you got some learning to do...

In other words, in this country, you MUST be a discerning consumer. Nobody is really protecting YOU, other than YOU.

Shouldn't that be taught? No... they won't, they don't want educated consumers... they want brainwashed dumb people...

Nutritious, good for you, healthy... Top Athelets on the box... must be good for you, right?

Yes, USA

No, that's not USA... my govt protects me!

ugh... what?

[Lliam]

No. How are consumers supposed to beware if government doesn't require manufacturers/producers to disclose facts about their products?
Consumers can't make informed decisions without full disclosure. And manufacturers/producers won't be truthful unless forced.

For example:
Auto manufacturers need to disclose factual info about safety, fuel efficiency and emission levels.
Food producers need to disclose all ingredients, nutrition facts, presence of GMOs, etc.
Drug and vaccine manufacturers need to disclose ingredients and factual information about possible side effects.

Granted, agencies like the FDA, EPA, CPSC, USDA and CDC that are tasked with consumer protection are captured by big business and are revolving doors for the industries they are supposed to regulate, so they do a poor job. They are more interested in money and protecting industry than consumer safety.

Look at the agricultural poisons in our food. Look at the contaminants in things we eat and drink. Look at our polluted air and water, and degradation of ecosystems. Look at the injuries and deaths caused by vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
Vaccine manufacturers even have the government requiring people to take harmful vaccines against their will.

So the problem isn't with consumers, it is with the corrupt agencies that are supposed to inform consumers of danger.

Agencies should remove poisons from the environment and the food supply.

Agencies should fully inform the public but they should not have the power to force consumers. If someone wants to consume raw milk, sweets, or tobacco it is on them. If someone doesn't want to take a vaccine, that's their right. I am opposed to the government dictating individual choice as long as factual information is available to allow people to make informed decisions.

[lightbulb27]

I agree with that. Its the food industry that is so obvious. We put this stuff out there, it's everywhere and normalized, promoted. consumers in bulk, cannot and will not make good choices.
We have all the information available, but on any given day, people will consume garbage. The consequences are generally delayed.
China... protects it's citizens much more, as does Europe.
We know what the problems are... but I see no evidence the support is at the higher level to fix it, other than a brief period of time of a few.

[Chazmatazz269]

To an extent, but it’s not enough. The government is meant to step in and stop monopolies, or break them up if they can’t be stopped in time. If a single company grows to control an entire market before consumers are aware, a boycott changes nothing. Especially if it’s a vital market. Most municipalities have privatized public utilities. Chances are if you want electricity in your home, you have ONE choice. Running water? ONE choice. Utility gas? ONE choice. These are cases of the government literally creating monopolies, and they have been getting away with it for so long that monopoly mitigation has become dead letter law. There’s no way for consumers to outsmart a cleverly arranged monopoly on necessary products and services. We need government for exactly these situations.
I’m quicker than most to recognize that government is bloated and more often useless than helpful, but i know that it is still quite necessary. And letting the capitalists self govern with a single, pithy quip like “let the buyer beware” has produced disastrous results historically, and still does. Particularly with the current state of labor unions. The people used to have tools to hit corrupt businesses where it hurts. The government weaponized antitrust laws that were meant to mitigate corporate monopolies against the unions themselves. All but completely defanging the proletariat’s best option for keeping crony capitalism in check.

[lightbulb27]

yes, let the buyer beware when it comes to nuclear power plants is not a good idea. But seems we might be going that way.

[Anonymous]

We are a capitalist society which is not a bad thing. But the problem with it is there are some things in society that should NEVER be for profit. And it isn't until the problem gets completely out of control that the the powers that be decide to do something about it.

It feels like you're talking about our food sources. Yes, eat better now and your medical bills won't be as high later. But is that really true? Avoid heart disease and diabetes by eating right and exercising. And instead get cancer from the carcinogenic water you drink, because it's healthy? I know it sounds like I'm defending eating like crap, I'm not. I'm simply saying every year there's inflation. If we're LUCKY only 2 to 3%. So if you're not making more than that via raises at your job, or investing (assuming you're blessed to have anything left over to invest), then you are falling behind. And people are generally forced to cut somewhere. Yeah you might get heart disease or diabetes. But it isn't going to matter if your kids starve today.

[exitseven]

There are some things the government should be monitoring. Our food supply and medications should be scrutinized because most people do not have the ability to do it themselves. A lot of things like appliances , showerheads, and vehicles the government should keep their nose out of it.

[DrPepper12]

Americans are stupid and dangerous which is exactly how they like it. It's the Darwin awards 24/7