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Pastimes : A CENTURY OF LIONS/THE 20TH CENTURY TOP 100 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MNI who wrote (1785)	11/17/1999 12:07:00 PM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 3246

I am happy to have you intrude, as always, especially when you corroborate me, but even when you contradict me<VBG>....Anyway, on the theoretical question, governments ordinarily provide the framework for transactions, for example, by minting currency, setting out legal rules for contract, and so forth. They also usually are involved in "infrastructure" development, such as the provision of roads. Finally, they manage potential conflicts through such expedients as zoning boards and licensing. All of these things seem to me to be part of their proper function, although it is true that the right of property may be qualified by such mechanisms. My analogy is to a traffic system: the government lays out roadways and enforces safety regulations, but mostly you are free to go where you want. Similarly, I would call a market "free" where there is substantial liberty to exchange goods and services, and to enter into contracts. I am not a libertarian....By the way, the primary difference between socialist and capitalist economies is a free-market in capital, not just "goods and services". A country is capitalist to the extent that investment decisions are market driven, rather than subject to government intervention and dictation......