There is no free market anywhere, ever. There are only interest groups and power relationships between them, leveraged by various political traditions, one of w

There is no free market anywhere, ever. There are only interest groups and power relationships between them, leveraged by various political traditions, one of which includes a very specific kind of relationship we call "money". The concept of a "free market" belongs with Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. It's not something a rational adult should ever admit to believing in. Remember this next time the financial industry demands a bail-out or a major military project goes ridiculously over budget, and everyone pretends to be shocked and surprised.