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Even though we can't know what the result would have been? Many mergers and acquisitions turn out to be huge mistakes.

• thehardsphere 9y ago
  The government stopping an entirely consensual act between two people or organizations is a blow to those people, because they aren't being allowed to do whatever it is that they otherwise wanted. Whether it would have been a mistake or not is their problem and part of doing business. You wouldn't use this same logic for actual people, would you? Two people may have sexual intercourse; many acts of intercourse lead to unwanted pregnancy and AIDS, so we should deem these people "unharmed" if the government denies them the opportunity to have sex?
  • burkaman 9y ago
    No, sorry, it was sort of a rhetorical question. You said a little earlier that you don't consider cancelling this rule to be a blow since it might have been harmful, and I thought this was an analogous situation. The government is stopping consensual acts between investors and entrepreneurs.
    • thehardsphere 9y ago
      Right. I think it is a "blow" in the sense that the companies expended time and effort preparing for this rule change. I don't know whether it is a "blow" in any way beyond that.