Which is worse: too much government regulation or rampant fraud?

[msc545]

I ask because you cannot have it both ways. If you don't want the fraud and cheating, that means government regulation is necessary. If you don't want to have too much government regulation according to you, then that means that you have to put up with the fraud and cheating. Even if you think you're too smart to avoid those things.

[MisterWack]

I used to be against government regulation and restriction, however I’ve seen what the world can look like without such regulations or restrictions in place.
It takes remembering that laws are restrictions on unethical behavior deemed by governing bodies that holds people in prison for breaking a preexisting law.

We have Anti Trust Laws on the books and we should be utilizing it in such cases of big pointless mergers and those that act in anti competitive ways that are negative and invasive on the consumer’s right to choice. The consumer will choose a great quality product, a well meaning non invasive service, and happily put money down for a bargain that saves them money in the long run however when there is one option left that goes against the consumer’s intuition then that company doesn’t have to hold to affordability, quality, non invasive procedures, and the rights of the consumer in general.

Not to mention the damage to the environment, damage to the quality of the product, and damage to the consumer’s wallet and worker’s income or job when top executives are chasing maximized efficiency, maximized profits, and maximized stock investors which its not in their moral code, so we should enforce ethical standards and principles to keep them in check.

It isn’t Anti Capital to want restrictions or regulations that all big corporations have to follow and comply with, it is however restrictive and invasive when they force small businesses to close, do buyouts, and lobby the government to get their interests met as the people feel unheard and fed up. Big corporations and businesses will thrive, always have however the people won’t be thriving as history tells us anything.
We know what happens when fire codes don’t exist or aren’t followed, meat and food quality is ignored, also who is behind those crisis. Bottom line is, regulation and restrictions are a necessity not a burden.

[MisterWack]

I want to add, we need to make a collective effort with our government to help small businesses thrive and promote job, also economic growth also build out our small communities rather than having our lives controlled by massive entities that hold the cards, get away with crime everyday, and influence our lives with lobbying efforts. This isn’t regulations and restrictions on the everyday man, it is the massive entities.

[slatyb]

We've seen the horrors resulting from unregulated markets -- people die. Overregulation can be corrected.

[purplepoppy]

I had the government on my farm a while back and he made a very good point. Most farmers try there best to keep within regulations and cooperated with visits. If anything is found it's usually minor and they'll help you sort it.

BUT, you'll go to some farms and you're faced with hostility, a very anti government stance, they'll rant and rage about regulations, government interference etc.

Without exception you always find these places are always up to no good and breaching the more serious stuff such as fraud.

[OneViewpoint]

Oversight and regulation is the fundamental purpose of government. The authority to regulate activity within society to the benefit of the overall society. No other entity has that power. Private regulation through market forces (Capitalism) will always result in, not fraud necessarily, but rampant unfair "cheating" and immoral or unethical actions such as monopolies to exclude competition which is the supposed foundation of Capitalism. To ignore that is stupid. It is human nature. And weak government regulation of banks and corporations in general are what it driving wealth inequality and the death of the US middle class. Libertarians are idiots. Conservatives are blind to the flaws in Capitalism after decades of propaganda that glorifies it with lies about trickle down economics, etc.

[goaded]

I suppose it depends on your definition of "too much"! Just right, to me, would be enough to stop the powerful from exploiting the powerless to excess. That includes polluting their food, air, and water. I don't care if someone makes a fortune off fidget spinners, I do if they make a fortune off pain and suffering.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I mean this question seems more interesting from the standpoint of free market. But, here in Antarctica, social market rules, so regulation is a given. So it seems hard to think nice things about absence of regulation, because it's an unfamiliar, exotic concept.

[Ariesman81]

Less regulation. The construction industry is a prime example of regulation/beuracracy run amok. The code books do nothing but offer builders bare minimums while simultaneously making projects more expensive.

Why do I need to pay a truss engineer to spec a 2x8 truss when I could have spent that money on a 2x10 roof.

[msc545]

Maybe to make the truss safe?

[Ariesman81]

I could have given you a stronger roof for the money I had to pay the engineer.

[Ariesman81]

Redoing your basement? Gotta bring electrical up to code. I know the code was sufficient 10 years ago, but they lied. Now you gotta have arc faults. That's gonna require a new electrical panel and rewiring.

[msc545]

It's really difficult to put a price on safely. And it's my house that you're working on then I'm going to make sure that you make it as safe as possible and I will unless the aids I come to you or whoever writes the codes sure that happens.

[Ariesman81]

Ah don't worry. I know the inspector. Usually just send him a quick FaceTime and he signs off on it.

[msc545]

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

[Ariesman81]

Rewire will probably cost you an extra $10-15k. But hey, small price to pay cause some parent can't seem to keep their kid from jamming forks in outlets. Am I right? Oh, and get use to resetting breakers, cause these new ones don't work well with appliances.

[Ariesman81]

Ooops... forgot the permit fees. You know Uncle Sam needs his cut too. Good thing the inspectors there to make sure I know what I'm doing!

[msc545]

Well with all that being said I think I'll just go find a different contractor.

[Ariesman81]

Cool. I suggest you act fast. The companies still left in business are filling up fast.

[NathanDavis]

the worse part is that... either way you go with, we still elect the same corrupted officials and politicians to be in charge of it...

and that's truly the worse...

[Agape93]

Regulation. Shit in some areas you can't even collect rain water legally. Fucking rain water. Idgaf if people do fraud.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Lol what, what is the spirit of this law banning rain water collection?

[Agape93]

Fuck if I know. They don't own it, provide it or maintain it so I don't see how they should get to regulate it. Thank god my states not retarded. Granted i disregard most regulations anyways.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Then I have a new question to ask to the internet lol

[goaded]

@Maybe_Maybe_not "Collecting rainwater is restricted in 11 states.

The reasons for these restrictions vary, but they usually have to do with environmental, health, and water rights concerns. Most of these states do allow rainwater collection in certain amounts and for certain purposes, so check the official Rainwater Harvesting Map to find your state and learn more about its restrictions.

States where collecting rainwater is restricted include: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin." www.wikihow.com/Why-Is-Collecting-Rainwater-Illegal

e. g. California: "Does storage of rainwater harvested from rooftops require a water right permit?

No. Water Code section 10574 provides that rainwater harvesting from rooftops does not require a water right permit. The State Water Board encourages methods of water collection or diversion, such as rooftop rainwater harvest, that reduce demand on streams and reduce water quality problems associated with stormwater runoff."

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@goaded You're the internet then, all right thank you lol

Ohhhh ok I get the health issue, but now I wonder what's contained in rain water to create that law in the first place. I don't quite get environmental and "water rights" reasons though, opinion?

[msc545]

What if people defraud you?

[Agape93]

Then I'll handle it.

[msc545]

Sure you will. What if you find it? Don't find out until it's far too late to do anything about it. Then what?

[Agape93]

If it's too late then oh well. Fuck all I can do about it then.

[msc545]

So you don't take protection from this kind of thing he's worth it?

[Agape93]

What protections I do or don't take are my concern. How I handle shit, is my concern.

[msc545]

How you handle shit that may affect others is everyone's concern.

[Agape93]

No it really isn't. And if it was, fine. If I'm getting robbed and my solution is to shoot them, and that's now everyone's issue too then why wasn't this addressed before the theft attempt?

[Snakeyes7]

I would rather the program not exist and actually fix the economy.

[NoDecision]

Either way sounds like FUBAR.

[jamesgoldman]

Regulation