There is no such thing as a "free market", as the term is used
by conservatives. Absolutely no such thing.
Here is why I say that the conservative media propaganda machine - such as Fox News and many radio shows, is really representing the very wealthy. The conservative media's mantra since the Ronald Reagan administration has been, "government bad, private industry good", and "let the free market be free" in countless variations. But that is a gigantic misdirection. They actually need government, because there is no such thing as a "free market". What big business does, is to influence the rules and regulations (tax loopholes and such) in their favor; and they do it with money. (Citizens United for example). But without government monetary and legal infrastructure, (the currency, laws, courts, enforcement, banking, setting interest rates, etc.) there is no free market.
The best analogy I can think of is the National Football League. Think of the game itself as "the market", and the entire set of rules that govern the behavior of the game as "the government". The governing body that is the NFL determines the rules of the game: the size of the field, the width of the goalposts, what you're allowed to do and not do. Everything that you might take for granted about the game of football is in fact highly regulated. Without the NFL (i.e., the government), you'd have no game; you'd only have chaos. There would be no standards. Every field could potentially be different. Every game could potentially be played using a different set of rules.
In our economy, big business influences the rules in their favor, so that - for a metaphorical example, the NY Giants football team influenced (i.e., paid for) legislation that would allow their offensive line to commit the infraction of "holding", but the offensive line for the Eagles would not be allowed to do the same thing.
So you see, big business still needs the rules, otherwise, they would not be able to do what they do. When they say, "get government out of the way", what they really mean is, "let us set the rules in our favor". And the more wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of a relatively few people, the more ability the wealthy have to control the rules.
Here is why I say that the conservative media propaganda machine - such as Fox News and many radio shows, is really representing the very wealthy. The conservative media's mantra since the Ronald Reagan administration has been, "government bad, private industry good", and "let the free market be free" in countless variations. But that is a gigantic misdirection. They actually need government, because there is no such thing as a "free market". What big business does, is to influence the rules and regulations (tax loopholes and such) in their favor; and they do it with money. (Citizens United for example). But without government monetary and legal infrastructure, (the currency, laws, courts, enforcement, banking, setting interest rates, etc.) there is no free market.
The best analogy I can think of is the National Football League. Think of the game itself as "the market", and the entire set of rules that govern the behavior of the game as "the government". The governing body that is the NFL determines the rules of the game: the size of the field, the width of the goalposts, what you're allowed to do and not do. Everything that you might take for granted about the game of football is in fact highly regulated. Without the NFL (i.e., the government), you'd have no game; you'd only have chaos. There would be no standards. Every field could potentially be different. Every game could potentially be played using a different set of rules.
In our economy, big business influences the rules in their favor, so that - for a metaphorical example, the NY Giants football team influenced (i.e., paid for) legislation that would allow their offensive line to commit the infraction of "holding", but the offensive line for the Eagles would not be allowed to do the same thing.
So you see, big business still needs the rules, otherwise, they would not be able to do what they do. When they say, "get government out of the way", what they really mean is, "let us set the rules in our favor". And the more wealth becomes concentrated in the hands of a relatively few people, the more ability the wealthy have to control the rules.
“GOP
2014 strategy -- Hire clowns, elephants, and a ringmaster and say "a media
circus" has emerged and blame Democrats for lack of progress. Have pundits
agree that "both sides are to blame" and hope the public will stay
home on election day.” Author
unidentified.
“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants
them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” - Susan B. Anthony
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