4 ms·

i'm keen on the idea that such a model of a government entity (or two) in competition with an open market would provide the most favorable outcome, because a tr

i'm keen on the idea that such a model of a government entity (or two) in competition with an open market would provide the most favorable outcome, because a truly free and fair market (one where competition leads to efficiency and low prices) seems mythically distant at this point. government entities can get subsumed by politics and bureaucracy, while private markets can get distorted by poor regulations and anti-competitive practices. if bureaucrats can get thrown out for not being competitive with the private companies, and private companies can go out of business for not being efficient and serving customers well, we might get decent service-oriented entities in the market. many goods that don't fit the simple paradigm of commerce (e.g., housing) can benefit from such a model.

davidw 8y ago
> politics and bureaucracy Health care was way less bureaucratic in Italy. Every time you go to the doctor in the US, you fill out forms. And then hand them to the person in the office who spends their days doing insurance stuff. In Italy - you just go to the doctor.
nybble41 8y ago
> a government entity (or two) in competition with an open market Meaningful competition cannot exist between tax-funded and voluntarily-funded service providers. Anyone who chooses the private provider ends up paying for both. The only way to ensure a level playing field is for the "government" entity to be limited to essentially a co-op, receiving no government funding or special influence and adhering to all the same rules which apply to private providers, in which case it might as well not be a government entity in the first place. Even then there is an obvious conflict of interest since the organization that makes and enforces the rules is also backing one of the competitors.

4 ms·

i'm keen on the idea that such a model of a government entity (or two) in competition with an open market would provide the most favorable outcome, because a tr

by clairity 8y ago

davidw 8y ago
> politics and bureaucracy Health care was way less bureaucratic in Italy. Every time you go to the doctor in the US, you fill out forms. And then hand them to the person in the office who spends their days doing insurance stuff. In Italy - you just go to the doctor.
nybble41 8y ago
> a government entity (or two) in competition with an open market Meaningful competition cannot exist between tax-funded and voluntarily-funded service providers. Anyone who chooses the private provider ends up paying for both. The only way to ensure a level playing field is for the "government" entity to be limited to essentially a co-op, receiving no government funding or special influence and adhering to all the same rules which apply to private providers, in which case it might as well not be a government entity in the first place. Even then there is an obvious conflict of interest since the organization that makes and enforces the rules is also backing one of the competitors.