Digital BW, The Print

I've read all the comments in the two lists I subscribe to wrt Keith's "platform", and I am amazed by the number of entities who respond to a proposal with labels (Socialist! Liberal! Anti-free-market!), as if that were a proper answer. I know that's how a lot of politics is conducted by the American political parties these days, with the videological sound bite, the short snappy showboat comment, but surely on a list we have a little more room for reasoned discussion.

If the purpose of a free market (assuming for the moment that it exists) is to permit free trade, then a free market must be anti-monopoly.

Therefore, if you're in favor of a free market you must be against the idea of monopolies.

If the purpose of capitalism is profit, then companies must naturally tend to want to monopolise a market. 

Therefore, the only way to preserve a free market is with some kind of anti-monopolistic regulation.

Anybody who thinks the market will handle monopolistic tendencies by natural forces does not read the news.


Nothing abnormal about national trends starting at the grassroots or state level. Keith has posted his platform here because he's been listening to what all listees have been saying about Epson and their cartridges, and that's why it's relevant to the list.

Lil
(American, btw)



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