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1. Comment by Max M on 18 December 2008:

   Sounds like a great way to move towards communism – Create a regulatory scheme in order to bring about market failure, then blame it on the market component in order to nationalize the resource.

2. Comment by wgreen on 18 December 2008:

   There seems to be a widespread bias against the free market. People seem to look for excuses to blame it. There are free and controlled aspects of our economy, and yet whatever free part remains is always blamed for the negatives.Is this just the invisiblity problem? I think it goes deeper: People tend to give in to the animal nature, the desire to be taken care of by the government. Polls show most people want more governmental control, not less. People value security and comfort above all else, and they irrationally believe the government can provide it. And they are willing to sacrifice freedom and self-deterimination for it. They trade the source of of real fulfillment for animal comfort, and they lose both. They sell their birthrights for a single meal.

3. Comment by Carl Clegg on 18 December 2008:

   As I listened to the debates, Obama repeatedly argued that our current financial crisis is the result of 8 years of failed policy and a lack of sufficient regulation. In reality, regulation has actually increased over the past 8 years — Sarbanes-Oxley, The Public Company Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 for instance, adds $1.4 trillion in compliance costs (according to a study done by the University of Rochester) and has done little to stop the Madoffs of the world. Compliance costs not only make goods and services more expensive but drives American businesses overseas. In the year following the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley was passed the number of US companies that deregistered from public stock exchanges tripled. And yet we have the Obamas of the world telling us how we need MORE regulation. God help us.

4. Comment by Mason Drake on 18 December 2008:

   WGreen, It sounds like Govt education is accomplishing its purpose. “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Toqueville is a great read addressing some of the same points you bring up.

5. Comment by wgreen on 19 December 2008:

   I agree, Mason. I think public ed has played an enormously important, perhaps the essential, role in the change that has taken place.It is interesting that industry leaders were among the architects of modern public ed–following Adam Smith\\\’s assessment that such people are often among the greatest enemies of the free market.

6. Comment by gail lightfoot on 20 June 2009:

   Well done! Sheldon. Of course, I expect no less than the best from you. : )

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