Question Raised in Glenn Beck Interview

[ssantoro]

After I heard the question by GB about the robber barons or captains of industry slamming the door behind them, John D. Rockefeller's quote, "Competition is a sin." came immediately to mind. These men accumulated great wealth in their industries but to keep their stranglehold on the competition they had to get government involved in banking through corrupt politicians like Nelson Aldrich and Woodrow Wilson. I believe without the creation of the federal reserve, and the partnering of big business and government, natural competition by smaller and faster companies would have eventually broken these companies up into smaller parts.

 

[YumYum]

Also, thank you for interjecting with the environmental question. It also greatly concerns me. So far the ideas proposed seem incredibly short-sighted and ineffective. The struggle with environmental issues is that they are not simply local. We're not talking about a factory that dumps a few chemicals in the local pond. What about corporate dumping in the oceans, which kills reefs, and leads to islands worldwide to be more susceptible to flooding? What about toxic levels of pollution in our water and food causing nation-wide increases in disease? What of air pollution? What about endangered species which I feel are vital to my sense of happiness - what is to keep them from being destroyed? If they aren't on my property, I seem to be completely unable to do anything about it. What about a large corporation/company that buys up 30,000 acres and clearcuts it for wood/paper products, decreasing the quality of the air for miles?

Even when it comes to small scale issues, like a big company polluting a local farmer's water supply - we all know how law works, especially so in a free market. The larger entity can win the lawsuit by hiring better lawyers, or by stalling the suit long enough that the farmer can no longer afford to maintain it. This happens all the time. How is this prevented?

I can't wait for answers that I've been seeking for a very long time! Thanks!

The "Free Environment" issue was a big stumbling block for me when I came to this forum. I agree with you about people polluting oceans, and vast areas of farmlands and forests, things that are too overwhelming for us to do anything about. Or, at least it seems that way. One thing I learned in college was about Costa Rica's parks. They are privately owned; not state owned, and yet they are some of the most pristine parks in the world. They are also very affordable to visit and spend time vacationing in. This is proof that privately owned lands can be better maintained than state owned lands.

Another thing to consider is that while we have the EPA here in America, and we spend billions in pollution control, we still have pollution, and plenty of it. Just like the War on Drugs has failed miserably, the "War on Pollution" has also failed. Everything government does or attempts to do fails. So, what is the solution?

 

[YumYum]

After I heard the question by GB about the robber barons or captains of industry slamming the door behind them, John D. Rockefeller's quote, "Competition is a sin." came immediately to mind. These men accumulated great wealth in their industries but to keep their stranglehold on the competition they had to get government involved in banking through corrupt politicians like Nelson Aldrich and Woodrow Wilson. I believe without the creation of the federal reserve, and the partnering of big business and government, natural competition by smaller and faster companies would have eventually broken these companies up into smaller parts.

But, wasn't it also the government who went after the trusts, making "anti-trust laws" in 1913? Also, did Rockefeller make his initial fortune with government intervention? If not, Rockefeller is a classic example of a big industry wiping out smaller businesses.

 

[ctb619]

The "Free Environment" issue was a big stumbling block for me when I came to this forum. I agree with you about people polluting oceans, and vast areas of farmlands and forests, things that are too overwhelming for us to do anything about. Or, at least it seems that way. One thing I learned in college was about Costa Rica's parks. They are privately owned; not state owned, and yet they are some of the most pristine parks in the world. They are also very affordable to visit and spend time vacationing in. This is proof that privately owned lands can be better maintained than state owned lands.

Can you provide a link stating that Costa Rica's "parks" (I presume you mean its National Parks) are privately owned? I understand that there are some privately owned and managed conservation areas, but these are minuscule compared to Corcovodo, Parque Internacional La Amistad, etc.

 

[american.swan]

I haven't read every response here, but something to remember is how cartels didn't work. Some member would secretly give discounts. To enforce the cartels some members went to government to enforce the cartel rules. It was the rail road owners who for the large part went to government and asked for sneaky laws to enforce the cartel policies. These cartels couldn't exists for more than 6 months or so before they were backstabbing each other with under the table discounts and when word got out the cartel would fall apart without government enforcement of the cartel rules.

 

[beerista]

Forget corporations. Let's look at this way: A multi-billionaire comes to my county and wants to put everybody out of business, and own all the businesses. How does he do it? He provides equal or better products or services at a lower cost, even it if he takes loses on his new operations. Eventually, the smaller businesses can't compete and either sell out or go out of business. No corporation here; no regulations or subsidies. Just a case where the guy with the most money eventually wins the poker game.

In this video, Tom Woods addresses this issue. The last 5 minutes tell the story of Dow Chemical which is particularly relevant to your example.

 

[YumYum]

Can you provide a link stating that Costa Rica's "parks" (I presume you mean its National Parks) are privately owned? I understand that there are some privately owned and managed conservation areas, but these are minuscule compared to Corcovodo, Parque Internacional La Amistad, etc.

Actually, I meant "preserves" that are privately owned and maintained.

From the web site:

"20% of the country has been deemed a national park, and another 15% is preserved through the use of privately owned preserves."

http://www.cvnewspaper.com/news/2011/03/14/preservation-of-the-costa-rican-rainforests-is-critical/

 

[botounami]

Can someone please tell me what kind of subsidies we're talking about? I need specifics. When you say that government allows corporations to do some of the more intolerable things they've done over the years, what specifically are you referring to?