From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com> Subject: RE: dbts: Privacy Fetishes, Perfect Competition, and the Foregone (fwd)

Forwarded message:

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Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 12:34:34 -0500 From: Petro <petro@playboy.com> Subject: RE: dbts: Privacy Fetishes, Perfect Competition, and the Foregone (fwd)

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In other words, a Black market is when you trade either illegal goods illegally, or legal goods illegally.

Too strict and unrealistic a definition of black market.

I would add the clause illegal goods (apparently) legally. This covers the case where stolen property is moved through legitimate channels. Even if the government doesn't restrict and legitimize the channels there must be restrictions on theft and inappropriate acquisition (fraud) of goods (and services) otherwise the result is not free-market, but rather barbarism and brute force rule. Under the "free-for-all" definition of free market, the final result would actually be slavery (since you wouldn't produce the items that I keep stealing from you unless I hold a gun to your head), and war (in order to get resources I can pay or I can steal, since I don't like to pay, I'll just get a bigger army and steal it from you). Sounds drastic? There are a few examples today in the parts of Africa controlled by warlords.

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If there are no illegal goods, and there is no regulations limiting trading, then the black market cannot exist.

Of course not since we've now legitimized theft and murder with your definition.

Nothing is EVER black and white. And free-market can never be 100% free or it will cease to be a market. APF