Free Markets

A free market is a market structure in which the distribution and costs of goods and services, along with the structure and hierarchy between capital and consumer goods, are coordinated by supply and demand unhindered by external regulation or control by government or monopolies.

-Wikipedia

Religious views should not be

imposed on the non religious.

The Government was (and is)

externally regulating the corn markets.

This is what happens to the potato or even beef market when the government hands the corn industry substantially more than a dollar a day.

Counter Arguments

A completely free market would be monopolized very quickly

Without government aid, beneficial programs or business's would be discontinued.

The Federal High way system would not exist

Consumer protection from shady products would go away.

I'm Not Saying there should be ZERO outside restriction on the markets.

Some restrictions are necessary to prevent monopolies from occurring.

Giving benefits to a company is sometimes a good idea if it encourages a good cause with small backlash. The government gave benefits to corn companies to decrease dependence on foreign oil. It was a good cause but the backlash and price was too high.

We need to be far more careful about who we give benefits to. It might seem smart to give benefits to something considered good, but sometimes those benefits can be abused and hurt competitors.

Some Counter Arguments

And What I'm not saying

Corn

Why is that bad?

By subsidizing corn, farmers of other crops lose money in comparison.

If I compete with the corn market, why should my taxes go directly to my competitor?

It Costs The Government too much money to be sustainable

Agricultural runoff from corn farmers leads to Coral loss.

"Federal law requires that certain minimum amounts of renewable fuels like ethanol be blended into gasoline."

The United States spent 20 billion in subsidies for use of Ethanol.

Including 6 billion in 2011

"the government imposed a tariff on imported ethanol, protecting the domestic industry."

-Ny Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/energy-environment/after-three-decades-federal-tax-credit-for-ethanol-expires.html?_r=0

-http://prezi.com/-uaoaamqmn9v/coral-loss-agricultural-runoff-seb101/

A Real Life Example

The Free markets

http://www.ncar.ucar.edu/feature/fieldguides/coral/images/coral_bleaching.jpg

Bleached and Dying Coral.

A Slightly Exaggerated Example.

Blue Laws

In Minnesota it's illegal to buy or sell Alcohol on Sundays

As If that Wasn't enough...

A Hypothetical Example

Minnesota loses tax dollars from Customers who drive to Wisconsin and buy liquor there.

Local liquor vendors are hurt by the law.

It doesn't seem right to force vendors to close their stores.

Why?

You Own Company A

Prevent

Alcoholism?

Sabbath day?

Nope

An Alcoholic could purchase Liquor on any other

day of the week in preparation for Sunday.

Your Competitor owns company B. You two compete over the same market and customer base. Someone decides to hand your competitor an extra dollar every day. While it might not seem like a lot, your competitor can invest this money to improve his product, advertise, or maybe just pay some bills. Extra money can be invested to create more money, which compounds your problem.

It started with just a dollar a day, but company B has been smart with the money, and able to use it to create more revenue for themselves, allowing them to lower prices and appeal to more of the market and customer base you compete over.

In A Free Market

In a free market the American dream is realized. The hardest or smartest workers will succeed.

In a free market competition is fierce, driving prices down for the consumer.

In a free market, the people drive change. If consumers desire a new thing, they will pay for it. If the consumers want a highway system they'll buy it.