[lsbskins1]

Quote by: grandpa Okay, but first you have to prove that state regulations embody "democratic prerogatives" -- which strikes me as a dubious assumption. It's like saying that, just because wages exist, they ought to exist and be regulated. To me, what you say lacks an understanding of conditionality. Your argument is simply locked into the status quo. Yes, it can generally be said that regulations should exist under certain conditions for certain reasons, but it doesn't mean this need is absolute. For example, in a state-capitalist system we need wages and regulations, but in a different society people may be able to act for different reasons, under other circumstances. Grandpa h.

I am making a pragmatic point that assumes that the economic system we have is the system that we have. This is not a discussion about the desirability of a Capitalist economy, this is a discussion about the definition of "free market" within a Capitalist economy. It is a discussion about what hand is guiding the market. If my OP had been "Would those who believe Jesus was God incarnate tell me if they believe he was ever angry", I would not expect to get responses from people insisting I prove Jesus existed. 'Tis another topic for another thread, methinks.