=09I know that THE MARKET is currently "in" and intervention and=20
subsidies are "out". However, the reality is that THE MARKET is a=20
powerful force for constantly depressing prices of mass produced items=20
and for decreasing the number of producers (i.e., weeding out the=20
"unfit"). It is also a powerful force for allocating resources in such a=20
way as to create and maintain a wide gap between the wealthy and poor.=20
=09A myth has developed that government programs don't work. And=20
certainly there are many examples of programs that are failures. But,=20
numerous government programs have carried out their intended purposes=20
quite well. And there are plenty of instances of private (for-profit=20
as well as non-profit organizations) messing up programs or carrying them=
=20
out very inefficiently.=20
=09There is certainly much that can be done to lessen the most=20
detrimental effects of capitalism (social security, unemployment=20
insurance, medicare, various anti-poverty programs, etc.). However, there=
=20
have been economic systems before capitalism and I am confident that=20
there will be other systems after capitalism, designed specifically to=20
meet peoples needs and aspirations while enhancing our natural=20
resources and truly providing equal opportunity.=20
=09Best wishes to all SANET folks for the new year - and keep on=20
discussing issues techncical and philosophical.
FRED