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Pastimes : Kosovo -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MNI who wrote (12689)	6/23/1999 10:41:00 PM
From: D. Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17770

Actually MNI I was thinking of the Social Democrats, not the CDP. I was not aware of the Green's privatization agenda, seems sort of contradictory considering their party, or is it just me? <g> Agreed that infrastructure is the prerogative of the government. Adam Smith argued the same in Wealth of Nations. We cant delude ourselves into thinking the market can resolve all needs or priorities, and infrastructure is one area where that is most true. What business person would consider investing in building an interstate highway, for example? Where would that sort of massive funding come from, and how could the investment be recouped? In cases like this, government serves its proper function. Some things the market is incapable, or at least reluctant or unwilling, to undertake. The litmus of government intervention in the economy or other areas should be, "can the market do this better?" If there is market failure, and there is a common interest in seeing the objective fulfilled, then the government has a role to play. As to government playing the role of corporate bagman, no good in my opinion. The government should not be in the business of bailing out failed or failing companies to make them market worthy again. This is counterproductive, as it defeats the very market forces which made this company fail. I for example would not advocate federal intervention to bail out, or prop up, GM just because it may be failing against foreign competition (not saying it is, just an example). Im sort of flailing here as Im pressed for time, but I appreciate the comments, good post and informative. Derek