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>The free market is going to work everything out Are you actually trying to tell me that in places where, say, child labor is a problem they have free markets?

>The free market is going to work everything out Are you actually trying to tell me that in places where, say, child labor is a problem they have free markets? That free markets caused child labor issues? Show me anywhere there's remotely close to a free market, as opposed to massive government meddling and coercion, and we'll determine how well off the people are. >History proves this argument a fallacy. You have a bizarre view of history. I look back and see your vaunted governmental powers causing tremendous human suffering.

TeMPOraL 10y ago
Yes, because standard business practice of fucking your customers over to the extent allowed by law is of course a result of regulations, and if governments didn't interfere then companies would not be fucking people over all the time. Think about it. You probably owe your life to regulations ensuring your food is edible, and your medicine isn't poison.
- forgetsusername 10y ago
  >Think about it. You probably owe your life to regulations ensuring your food is edible, and your medicine isn't poison. This is just laughable. Yeah, nameless, faceless companies who earn profit from consumers eating and drinking their goods are just going to poison everyone. It's not like they are composed of actual people with friends and families too, right? They want to kill everyone. Again, show me the greatest historical body-counts being business related, not governmental or politically motivated.
  - pjc50 10y ago
    The usual example is Bhopal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster For food poisoning, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal : "A [WHO] spokesman said the scale of the problem proved it was "clearly not an isolated accident, [but] a large-scale intentional activity to deceive consumers for simple, basic, short-term profits." It's worth looking at the various incidents in the US leading up to the establishment of the FDA, such as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_beef_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_beef_scanda...
    - forgetsusername 10y ago
      According to what you linked there, the factory of record was 49% owned by government entities. Is that the "free market" at work? Some businesses have done bad things. Many more do good things. Not sure what the point is? Do some bad accidents mean the free market doesn't work? Meanwhile, across the way, HNers are screaming about the Brazillian government enforcing laws regarding WhatsApp...

TeMPOraL 10y ago

Yes, because standard business practice of fucking your customers over to the extent allowed by law is of course a result of regulations, and if governments didn't interfere then companies would not be fucking people over all the time. Think about it. You probably owe your life to regulations ensuring your food is edible, and your medicine isn't poison.

forgetsusername 10y ago
>Think about it. You probably owe your life to regulations ensuring your food is edible, and your medicine isn't poison. This is just laughable. Yeah, nameless, faceless companies who earn profit from consumers eating and drinking their goods are just going to poison everyone. It's not like they are composed of actual people with friends and families too, right? They want to kill everyone. Again, show me the greatest historical body-counts being business related, not governmental or politically motivated.
- pjc50 10y ago
  The usual example is Bhopal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster For food poisoning, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal : "A [WHO] spokesman said the scale of the problem proved it was "clearly not an isolated accident, [but] a large-scale intentional activity to deceive consumers for simple, basic, short-term profits." It's worth looking at the various incidents in the US leading up to the establishment of the FDA, such as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_beef_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_beef_scanda...
  - forgetsusername 10y ago
    According to what you linked there, the factory of record was 49% owned by government entities. Is that the "free market" at work? Some businesses have done bad things. Many more do good things. Not sure what the point is? Do some bad accidents mean the free market doesn't work? Meanwhile, across the way, HNers are screaming about the Brazillian government enforcing laws regarding WhatsApp...