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The problem with crony capitalism is the crony part, not the capitalism part. So I agree that laws (usually passed by people with more self-interest than under

The problem with crony capitalism is the crony part, not the capitalism part. So I agree that laws (usually passed by people with more self-interest than understanding) are almost never the optimal solution, by definition. Trouble is that we don't actually have a true free market, so the question becomes what is the best real-world solution, given the distortions/limits of the existing system?

scarface74 8y ago
I trust the capitalist a lot more than the government. Capitalist are motivated with making money the transparent way - people give them money and they give people goods and services. The government is ruled by cronyism and even worse cow tow to people’s worse instincts, superstitions, and prejudices.
- ianmcgowan 8y ago
  I like money as much as the next person, but your statement could perhaps stop at "Capitalist are motivated with making money" and still be mostly true. The other parts are optional. The function of government is to make sure those other parts happen - that the capitalist doesn't take the money and not provide the goods (the courts, the police) or provide goods in one place at a low price by dumping toxic shit in another hurting people (EPA), tell you lies and get you to invest in their firm (SEC) or a million other examples. The burden in burdensome regulations is in the eye of the beholder. Also remember that (at least in a democracy) we are the government. If you don't like what they're doing, vote the bums out. It's a little harder to vote out the plutocrats.
  - scarface74 8y ago
    We are not a democracy. We are at best a Republic. A democracy would be one vote one voice. But in the Senate, there are two Senator for Wyoming (population 540,000) that have the same vote as the two Senators from California (population 39 million +). On top of that you have gerrymandering. If you live in a populous city in a populous state your vote is worth much less than someone who lives in a rural city in a less populous state. You’re also assuming as a fact that the court system and the police are not corrupt and can be trusted...
- xmly 8y ago
  True capitalist just takes your money and does not give you anything since they like money so much.

scarface74 8y ago

I trust the capitalist a lot more than the government. Capitalist are motivated with making money the transparent way - people give them money and they give people goods and services. The government is ruled by cronyism and even worse cow tow to people’s worse instincts, superstitions, and prejudices.

ianmcgowan 8y ago
I like money as much as the next person, but your statement could perhaps stop at "Capitalist are motivated with making money" and still be mostly true. The other parts are optional. The function of government is to make sure those other parts happen - that the capitalist doesn't take the money and not provide the goods (the courts, the police) or provide goods in one place at a low price by dumping toxic shit in another hurting people (EPA), tell you lies and get you to invest in their firm (SEC) or a million other examples. The burden in burdensome regulations is in the eye of the beholder. Also remember that (at least in a democracy) we are the government. If you don't like what they're doing, vote the bums out. It's a little harder to vote out the plutocrats.
- scarface74 8y ago
  We are not a democracy. We are at best a Republic. A democracy would be one vote one voice. But in the Senate, there are two Senator for Wyoming (population 540,000) that have the same vote as the two Senators from California (population 39 million +). On top of that you have gerrymandering. If you live in a populous city in a populous state your vote is worth much less than someone who lives in a rural city in a less populous state. You’re also assuming as a fact that the court system and the police are not corrupt and can be trusted...
xmly 8y ago
True capitalist just takes your money and does not give you anything since they like money so much.