We can have differing ideas of what a government's job is. In my opinion, one of the jobs of government is to address clear market failures. On the securities

We can have differing ideas of what a government's job is. In my opinion, one of the jobs of government is to address clear market failures. On the securities side of things, 1929 was a clear market failure. On the environmental side of things, Love Canal was a clear market failure. The government is in the best position out of any entity to address these failures, to prevent a horde of swindlers from tanking our economy or to prevent some corporate stooges from poisoning elementary school children. I'm actually fine with the government acting to "increase participation in the market". That's why we try to have a steady 3% inflation, to encourage market participation.