tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post5168765403215040693..comments2023-09-09T00:48:12.875-07:00Comments on Perspective From The Summit: In Support of Capitalism, America Style (part 1 of 3)Matt Guerinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05433397955119179231noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-8134861020299466812009-04-11T19:32:00.000-07:002009-04-11T19:32:00.000-07:00Ken, great to see you back. We are definitely on t...Ken, great to see you back. We are definitely on the march toward more state power for the foreseeable future, and I think you should definitely blog about that.<BR/><BR/>I think a completely unregulated market is more of a theoretical construct than a real one - I have a hard time picturing how both government and social pressures could be absent or fail to make their presence felt to at least some extent on the economy. And this is good: I don't know of too many real people (read "non-elitist-academics") who advocate for a society where, say, fraud or breach of contract are not punishable offenses. Of course the question remains how much regulation is good? And perhaps more importantly, <B> what principles will guide us as we seek to answer that question?</B><BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, that's where I'm headed next. So thanks - your comment is the kick I needed to get part 2 up, so here goes!Matt Guerinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433397955119179231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931783049655504855.post-65298886822113942502009-04-11T09:26:00.000-07:002009-04-11T09:26:00.000-07:00I can't stand Hugo Chavez either. And besides, thi...I can't stand Hugo Chavez either. And besides, this isn't the first time they've written the obituary for American-style capitalism.<BR/><BR/>The Founding Fathers were barely 100 years separated from some of the worst religious conflicts (which are rarely about religion). I like the point that they did not want one person or group to have too much power.<BR/><BR/>I am not a person that believes in a completely unregulated Free Market. For the Free Market to work correctly, there needs to be a conscience there. Competition is good and drives innovation, ingenuity and encourages efficiency. Regulations can be useful.<BR/><BR/>As he was enacting many of the reforms of the New Deal, FDR was often called a Socialist or Communist by his largest critics for such programs as Social Security. However, he knew that by restraining capitalism in certain respects, he was also saving American capitalism. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I believe that American capitalism with weather this storm. Politically, though, I believe that we are still on the march towards more consolidation of power in the hands of a few, but that the subject of a new blog post. Hey, maybe I'll post again soon!Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05744575738815184510noreply@blogger.com