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> They may be imperfect, but they're a hell of a lot better than the alternative and have had a profound positive impact on our society. No, it isn't better th

> They may be imperfect, but they're a hell of a lot better than the alternative and have had a profound positive impact on our society. No, it isn't better than the alternative. The alternative is to have regulators selected and overseen by elected officials regulate the behavior of companies. We instead of a system of regulation by self appointed ad hoc lawyer-regulators negotiating settlements they think will get past the judge overseeing their case and allow them to collect a fee. The latter is perhaps better than nothing, but it isn't better than the alternative which happens to be in place in the rest of the developed world.

wlesieutre 9y ago
Regulators selected and overseen by elected officials aren't a foolproof solution either. Sometimes you end up with Scott Pruitt [1] running the EPA, whose objectives are apparently a) denying that climate change exists, and b) dismantling any environmental protections that businesses find inconvenient. The self-appointed lawyer regulators at least have an incentive to do their jobs: they get a bunch of money. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt
- Bud 9y ago
  He didn't say foolproof; he said better.
  - jacquesm 9y ago
    That was his point. Pruitt is not better.
syshum 9y ago
Yes because regulation is working out really well That is why I have plenty of competition for Internet Access and Net Neutrality is vigorously enforced That is why the FTC routinely issues fines for False Advertisers for all the false claims that are made daily in ads That is why there are plenty of bankers in jail for crashing the economy in 2007, Government regulation is grand
- __jal 9y ago
  So vote for people who actually want to competently regulate, and work to encourage others to do the same. Paraphrasing, we are currently getting the regulation we deserve - good and hard.
  - nojvek 9y ago
    If you believe democracy is for people. Then you are mistaken. Democracy simply means more than one entity fighting for power. Usually both of them have their own agendas and only give a shit when it’s time to vote. And we all know lying, backstabbing and spreading propaganda on Facebook and media channels is a much better way to win voters than doing what’s good for them. The system was always a plutocracy and will always be.

wlesieutre 9y ago

Regulators selected and overseen by elected officials aren't a foolproof solution either. Sometimes you end up with Scott Pruitt [1] running the EPA, whose objectives are apparently a) denying that climate change exists, and b) dismantling any environmental protections that businesses find inconvenient. The self-appointed lawyer regulators at least have an incentive to do their jobs: they get a bunch of money. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pruitt

Bud 9y ago
He didn't say foolproof; he said better.
- jacquesm 9y ago
  That was his point. Pruitt is not better.

syshum 9y ago

Yes because regulation is working out really well That is why I have plenty of competition for Internet Access and Net Neutrality is vigorously enforced That is why the FTC routinely issues fines for False Advertisers for all the false claims that are made daily in ads That is why there are plenty of bankers in jail for crashing the economy in 2007, Government regulation is grand

__jal 9y ago
So vote for people who actually want to competently regulate, and work to encourage others to do the same. Paraphrasing, we are currently getting the regulation we deserve - good and hard.
- nojvek 9y ago
  If you believe democracy is for people. Then you are mistaken. Democracy simply means more than one entity fighting for power. Usually both of them have their own agendas and only give a shit when it’s time to vote. And we all know lying, backstabbing and spreading propaganda on Facebook and media channels is a much better way to win voters than doing what’s good for them. The system was always a plutocracy and will always be.