>>What I don't like about this argument is that it vastly downplays corporations' ability to form monopolies and cartels in the absence of government programs t

>>What I don't like about this argument is that it vastly downplays corporations' ability to form monopolies and cartels in the absence of government programs to abuse. They are perfectly capable of using whatever means are at hand. Exactly. We have seen again and again that lack of government intervention in the economy does not lead to a "free market." It leads to monopolies and cartels.