Forwarded message:
From: Matthew James Gering <mgering@ecosystems.net> Subject: RE: GPL & commercial software, the critical distinction (fwd) Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 18:24:02 -0700
Jim Choate wrote:
The reality is that we don't live in a free-market, but rather a rather lightly regulated one.
Lightly? You jest.
No I don't. I can start a business for as little as $15 to register a DBA and I don't need licenses or other sorts of regulatory permissions. If I sell a product or service (some are exempt, check your local area) I'll need a tax number to pay my state sales tax (though they do nothing to regulate my business other than specify that I must pay x% of my sales to the community). Getting that tax number is free. Outside of that (at least in Texas) I'm ready to go. Yep, that's a lot of regulation, no forms or permission slips from some in loco parentis, no reports or annual fees.
No, we certainly don't live in a free market, we have a mixed economy. We *should* have a free market,
No we shouldn't. The fact that monopolies can exist in this lightly regulated economy is ample evidence that the non-regulated or free-market theory is nothing more than another pie-in-the-sky utopian dream. Unrealistic and unrealizable. If you seriously think this is a heavily regulated market you should do more research into such places as Nazi Germany, Russia, China, etc.
are much more destructive and pervasive than any potential abuses by market leaders.
Monopolies are monopolies, claiming that they will be less abusive in a regulated market than in a free-market just demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic human instincts. You are claiming that if we do away with the food regulations that McDonalds will be *more* concerned about their meat being cooked thoroughly then you obviously don't understand people who chase the bottem line to the exclusion of all else.
Also, the latter abuses are naturally corrected by competition,
If a market monopolizes there is *NO* competition. If the market is one that takes a large investment in intellectual or capital materials then there won't be any opportunity to even attempt to start a competitive venture.
The answer for establishing "rules" which insure "fairness," such as
Fairness is about the consumer, not the manufacturer. This misunderstanding (if not intentional misdirection) by free-market mavens is at least one indication why it won't work.
competition. Make it a contractually issue and not a criminal one,
Contractual with who?
reputation for punishment instead of life and liberty,
Businesses are neither alive nor do they enjoy liberty. Don't confuse people with systems and objects. ____________________________________________________________________ The seeker is a finder. Ancient Persian Proverb The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------