In the past few weeks I've had a few interactions with people who "hate money", consider it "evil", think it "creates greed, poverty, hunger". They see the cronyism and banking/political corruption and blame this on money. There is indeed plenty of corruption in the world and many systems that are more destructive than beneficial. But money itself simply is not one.
"Lack of money is the root of all evil" - George Bernard Shaw
If you missed it, here is Part 1 of this post from last week.
To follow on from last weeks post on Free Markets this week I wish to cover two things briefly: The myths about a Free Market, and how economically less free countries fare compared to freer countries.
The most overused myth about the Free Market is that it caused the financial collapse, but as I covered last week the financial markets are the most heavily regulated in the world, thus they ain't free. There was other reasons for the collapse, far from too much freedom, but networks of corruption and cronyism. A free market is when there is absolutely no regulation where two people, or companies can trade freely without government interference.
Venezuela where 36 Trojan condoms cost $755
Whether the public health system in your country is amazing or useless is irrelevant in this post. The point is the right to choose. Even if a public service is good enough why should people be forced to pay for it? Surely if the service is great value and highly efficient people will line up and gladly pay for it?
Regulated products kill millions of people every year, having a licence is no guarantee that a holder will act honourably or lawfully.
With the attack on the Paris cartoonists the masses have taken to the streets, airwaves and interwebs to wave some pencils and make their well meaning although somewhat lame and confused voices heard. What happened in Paris, if true, is obviously abhorrent. Right now I am more concerned with the reaction by the public and political world, what is unfolding and where this may all lead.
Free speech is a wonderful thing, where and when it occurs. There are many variants, in that not all of us feel empowered or free enough to state our views, fear of ridicule or social exclusion runs through the human make-up. So it’s much easier to express, freely, popular opinions, beliefs etc. than to go against the socially accepted views. There is a need for humans to feel part of the tribe, to feel accepted in our community. In the past exclusion could result in enforced isolation, starvation or even death. Life is hard enough without being excluded from ones social circle, community or family.
The demand for newspapers to be policed by government is laziness on behalf of the public.
The main news in Ireland for many months revolves around Irish Water Cronyism. It is a state company that uses tax payers money to establish itself, pay wages, possibly upgrade the water infrastructure etc. Regardless of making a profit or loss, this company can feed off the unlimited purse of the tax base. It might be a voluntary company as in consumers can opt out, but it is a monopoly so consumers will struggle to pick an alternative.
This is not privatization. This is not a private company.
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