Free agency

Submitted by Mitch van Biljon (United States), Feb 26, 2008 at 11:39

Dennis, it goes without saying that the definition freedom of religion allows one to believe or not to believe. The fundamental principle given to all human beings by God, if you believe in him, is the principle of free agency. God certainly does not seek obedience through force as that would not reveal our love of him.

Free markets by definition cannot exist with govt interference. The minute govt influences the natural demand and supply cycle it becomes not longer free enterprise. There are some that say that govt ensures an even playing field. This notion that govt can limit their influence naturally is naive and patently false. In any sector where govt gets involved the natural cycle is screwed.

Take for example ethanol subsidies where the result is the focus on ethanol producing crops at the expense of other crops which is rapidly increasing the price of other crops and food. Take for example the farming community being paid to not grow certain crops and the effect that has. Surely if a farmer grows a product that no one wants he will lose all, what motivation would he have to grow crops that people do not want? Now I am sure that some see the need for govt playing a stabilizing role and evening the playing field.

Sadly that has never happened as an economist by training I observe that the govt always does more damage to the overall market through their interference. "Companies like Boeing, General Dynamics, and McDonald-Douglas benefited greatly from the Cold Wars and WWI, Korea and Vietnam due to the gignantic military expenditures. The millions of American workers who have been "downsized" in recent years in the name of "the bottom line" and "shareholder interest" will no doubt be pleased to learn that American corporations do no practice free market capitalism." The trade agreements that exist today do not benefit the american people and certainly are not free trade.

These international businesses pay fortunes to the US senators and congressmen to enact laws that benefit them at the expense of the free market. There is nothing free or fair with NAFTA and other trade agreements. There will never be a fair fight with foreign nations who abuse their people with the rates of pay that are frankly disgraceful.

I am for the free market within US boundaries and the heck with "immoral" international trade. What people do not realize is that their greed to get product at the lowest price is taking advantage of someone somewhere. Now, is there a perfect solution? Not as long as mankind remains greedy and is wasteful. Your reference to Reagan and de-regulation is an area where I agree 100%. It was his policies that "freed" the US economy which created the greatest growth period in our history. Those policies work. The new deal was as socialist as one can be.

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