The Purpose of Government - Page 3

Qwerty · #21 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Fox

The government has a responsibility to break them up, it has the ability to do so, and it's hard to hide a monopoly. It's simple.

Well the reason I asked was because you didn't mention any government responsibility for infrastructure. Sewer, roads, and water are highly prone to monopolies. If someone owns the road that goes around you house, you're f***ed if you don't pay what they tell you to pay.

White Fox · #22 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:31 PM

These are natural monopolies, and require government regulation (but not ownership). These are industries where competition on a local scale just isn't practical. Imagine if there was more than one sewer system that you could pay for, or three different roads side by side that you could take to work. In these cases, the government has to make sure that the owners of these companies cannot just charge whatever they feel like, or else they would charge the people more than what they would really be willing to pay. Railroads are the classic example, but there are many others.

Qwerty · #23 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:39 PM

So then, the governments actions on monopolies is not only to break them up, but also to regulate some of them.

menetopali · #24 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:45 PM

i happen to disagree with the notion of 'natural monopolies'. if a builder wants to buy the land, build the road, and charge for use of the road even if another one exists right next to it then let them (although that may be a poor business choice).

White Fox · #25 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwerty

So then, the governments actions on monopolies is not only to break them up, but also to regulate some of them.

There is a difference between what we usually refer to as monopolies, big groups of companies in a singe industry, and natural monopolies, which are necessary and MUST be monopolies to exist economically. But yes, some monopolies need not to exist, and some (the natural ones) must be controlled. This is just plain, conservative economics that dates back to Adam Smith.

Qwerty · #26 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Fox

There is a difference between what we usually refer to as monopolies, big groups of companies in a singe industry, and natural monopolies, which are necessary and MUST be monopolies to exist economically. But yes, some monopolies need not to exist, and some (the natural ones) must be controlled. This is just plain, conservative economics that dates back to Adam Smith.

Don't worry, I understand and agree in principal. I was just asking what actions you meant when you were referring to monopolies. You weren't clear in your OP or first response to me.

frodly · #27 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Fox

What is it? Please be explicit as possible. This is a relatively simple question, so let's see what you think.

Personally, I think the government's only purposes are to:

1.) Protect the rights, life, liberty, and property, of all the individuals in the nation.
2.) Defend the country from foreign or domestic invasion or subversion.
3.) Protect the free market from the forces of monopolies.
4.) Provide a system that represents the people, so that the power of the government is put in check.
5.) Ensure that no one person or group in the government becomes so powerful as to prevent any of the previous purposes.

In my mind the purpose of government is to protect people's ability to do whatever they want, as long as that does not infringe on some one else's right to do whatever they want. Then that is where government should step in, to protect our rights!

White Fox · #28 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frodly

In my mind the purpose of government is to protect people's ability to do whatever they want, as long as that does not infringe on some one else's right to do whatever they want. Then that is where government should step in, to protect our rights!

I agree completely, and this list is just the explicit statement of what the government has to do to enforce this.

I have said this statment, word for word, to many people before. Way to be sensible.

Garth · #29 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Fox

Suppose the will of the majority wants to take property from the rich or kill off the Jews, or bring back slavery.

I would like to modify my list:

7) Represent the will of the majority assuming that it does not infringe upon the rights of the minority.

akc814ilv · #30 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 01:13 AM

The purpose of Government??

To protect the people they serve.

Thats it.

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