"The only true free market is the Black market."
Not true at all. The black market and its attendant high prices exists because a free market doesn't exist. Black market prices are higher than the controlled market. However goods that aren't available in the controlled market are often available on the black market. The controlled market indirectly increases black market prices by limiting profits for the sellers in the controlled market.
An example: A few days ago, a person from Seattle stated, to a group I was part of, that pot was $160/ounce now that Washington state had legalized recreational usage. Compare that price to those on the black market in states where the use and sales is illegal. You will find the black market prices run 2-2.5X higher.
Furthermore in most places in the world, if you are caught buying or selling on the black market, there are substantial legal penalties. If legal penalties exist for participating in this market, it can't be free.
The only freedom that exists in a black market is the freedom to buy goods and services that are illegal, restricted or withdrawn from normal sales venues at highly inflated prices. That is a pretty restricted definition of a free market.
In the US, the closest you can get to a free market is cash. Cash is king. With cash, you can dicker on price. Cash leaves no paper trail.
"This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." The problem, of course, is cash controls enforced by government through the banking system. Ergo part of the reason for the push to have everyone use credit/debit cards.
The only markets I've observed that lean towards free are farmer's markets and flea markets. And again, cash is king in those markets.
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"Everything else is controlled somehow to benefit the chosen few."
Not so. It is controlled to maximize the tax revenue stream. With 47 million on SNAP, millions on SS disability, and a myriad of other so-called entitlement programs, this controlled market, and its attendant skim, benefits the non-productive sector and secures their votes.
In fact, it benefits the majority. Highways, AMTRAK, airports, harbors and massive infrastructure are paid for out of general revenue funds obtained by taxation. No monies exist in any of the trust accounts, just T-bonds aka IOUs.
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"... copyright laws, patent laws, ..."
Your Libertarian slip is showing. I have mixed feelings about intellectual property.
On one side, why should someone else benefit financially on my R&D?
Why should someone else be able to take my book, reprint it and sell it for their own profit?
BUT, the Constitution states, "... for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right ..."
Just my opinion, but 7 years for patents and 17 years for copyrights is quite adequate.
"Taxes,fees,Subsides ..."
Why should anyone obtain benefits from government without paying a user fee to cover the cost of distribution of said benefit? Do you advocate no taxes or subsides on one hand but demand a free-be (national defense as one example) on the other? Isn't that just a subsidy? Who pays?
Nothing is free beyond the air we breathe. Except for air, everything on the bottom tier of "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" carries a cost.
The problem is free-be's. If you didn't earn it, you aren't entitled to it.
I'm all for phasing out all taxes and subsidies. All, including my SS retirement check. Repeal the XVIth, XVIIth and sec.4 of the XIVth Amendments. Repeal the Federal Reserve Act. Repeal the ACPPA act. Eliminate 98% of government and the employees. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!
Don't feed the bears. It habituates them to hand-outs.
Once habituated, if you then refuse to feed them, they will attack, maul you and take what they feel is rightfully theirs.
Amazing isn't it. A C+ graduate working for the state or national parks system can figure this out, but politicians can't.
Do you have any idea how this turns out?
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Just watch the French farmers. They are the movie trailer for the movie coming to a theater near you. Well, truth be told, we will all be in that movie. Sooner or later, nature always outs itself with a violent recoil.
Everything is connected to everything.
Everything has to go somewhere.
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. TANSTAAFL
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I understand your anger, but your argument needs to be cleaned up a bunch.
Each of us chose our path. Everyone needs to understand, our individual life experience is the direct result of our own choices. Rules change all the time in a dynamic system, ergo your failure to adapt to that change is your fault. Even a squirrel knows enough to pack away nuts for the coming lean winter. The dog buries the bone. I find it most curious that modern US homes lack a pantry. And DHS recommends every family stocks several days worth of critical supplies in case of a disaster, yet few listen and even fewer comply.
We are living in an Orwellian dystopia. It is gonna be a hard landing so make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright and locked position. Put your head between your knees and kiss your privileged patooty good-bye. The cold winds of long past-due debts for the privilege of American Exceptionalism are fast approaching. It was a good run, but Ragnarok is almost upon us. Bundle up or you will catch your death of cold.
And to think that I am an optimist. Change always introduces new opportunities. Each just needs to understand, that isn't a hot-tub you are in.
