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You want Republicans to be Libertarians, which they are not. I think the cable companies probably waited for government-granted monopolies before they invested

You want Republicans to be Libertarians, which they are not. I think the cable companies probably waited for government-granted monopolies before they invested in the last-mile infrastructure, because they wanted to be sure it would be worth it. So on a free market, the investment in infrastructure would have been slower (probably), but competition would be better long-term. Although any infrastructure discussion must include the phenomenon of suburban sprawl fueled by government's over-investment in roads.

mtgx 10y ago
I know they aren't. But they pretend to be for the most part (except the social issues and religious issues). Also, I disagree with "pure libertarianism" myself. I think fair baseline standards are needed to establish a level playing field. But what the U.S. has now is far from a "free market" anymore. It's much closer to a "pay to play" market.
dragonwriter 10y ago
> You want Republicans to be Libertarians, which they are not. To be fair, that desire is likely based on over three decades of Republicans pretending to be Libertarians in the rhetoric directed at building opposition to programs they don't like.
maxxxxx 10y ago
I would be with libertarians if they didn't go to the extreme of wanting no regulations. There should be regulations for the environment and for creating fair market conditions. Healthbcare should be regulated in some way to ensure accessibility. Whatever I hear from libertarians will lead to people with money accumulating all power in the same way we see now.
- clarkmoody 10y ago
  Libertarians oppose crony capitalism and the use of state power for special interests in general. The libertarian theory on regulation is that the market punishes bad behavior way more effectively than the government, which can always be swayed by political forces. During the Industrial Revolution, for instance, judges sided with corporations in pollution cases, thinking, "We can't hinder industrial progress for the sake of a few people's lungs." So the government granted monopoly pollution privileges to industry. Under a free market property rights scenario, any damage done to another person via pollution would be grounds for a suit against the polluter, no special government protection. Edit: take a closer look at libertarian writings on environmentalism and pollution
  - maxxxxx 10y ago
    In the libertarian world you just sue when you are being wronged and justice will be done. In reality if you sue a big company you have to go against an army of lawyers, expert witnesses they can buy and media campaigns. You simply can't win that unless you have a lot of money. We still would have lead paint if the EPA hadn't banned it. How can a single family prove to a court that whatever problems their children have is caused by lead paint? Fund a clinical study for a few million dollars?
inetsee 10y ago
"You want Republicans to be Libertarians..." I want politicians (be they Republican, Democrat, etc.) to act in the best interest of all the people in the nation, and not just the small fraction that benefit from large corporations making inordinate profits.

mtgx 10y ago

I know they aren't. But they pretend to be for the most part (except the social issues and religious issues). Also, I disagree with "pure libertarianism" myself. I think fair baseline standards are needed to establish a level playing field. But what the U.S. has now is far from a "free market" anymore. It's much closer to a "pay to play" market.

dragonwriter 10y ago

> You want Republicans to be Libertarians, which they are not. To be fair, that desire is likely based on over three decades of Republicans pretending to be Libertarians in the rhetoric directed at building opposition to programs they don't like.

maxxxxx 10y ago

I would be with libertarians if they didn't go to the extreme of wanting no regulations. There should be regulations for the environment and for creating fair market conditions. Healthbcare should be regulated in some way to ensure accessibility. Whatever I hear from libertarians will lead to people with money accumulating all power in the same way we see now.

clarkmoody 10y ago
Libertarians oppose crony capitalism and the use of state power for special interests in general. The libertarian theory on regulation is that the market punishes bad behavior way more effectively than the government, which can always be swayed by political forces. During the Industrial Revolution, for instance, judges sided with corporations in pollution cases, thinking, "We can't hinder industrial progress for the sake of a few people's lungs." So the government granted monopoly pollution privileges to industry. Under a free market property rights scenario, any damage done to another person via pollution would be grounds for a suit against the polluter, no special government protection. Edit: take a closer look at libertarian writings on environmentalism and pollution
- maxxxxx 10y ago
  In the libertarian world you just sue when you are being wronged and justice will be done. In reality if you sue a big company you have to go against an army of lawyers, expert witnesses they can buy and media campaigns. You simply can't win that unless you have a lot of money. We still would have lead paint if the EPA hadn't banned it. How can a single family prove to a court that whatever problems their children have is caused by lead paint? Fund a clinical study for a few million dollars?

inetsee 10y ago

"You want Republicans to be Libertarians..." I want politicians (be they Republican, Democrat, etc.) to act in the best interest of all the people in the nation, and not just the small fraction that benefit from large corporations making inordinate profits.