Comments on: Back in The Jungle? http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/1176.html Coffee, Cocktails & More Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:51:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Jacob Grier http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/1176.html#comment-343639 Jacob Grier Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:24:50 +0000 http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/1176.html#comment-343639 Yes, it's the latter point I am making. Right or wrong, it's perfectly reasonable to call for more effective regulations. And it might be reasonable to blame Republicans for current failures. It's his use of the fact that regulations are being subverted exactly the way free market advocates predict they would as a criticism of free markets that I find objectionable. Yes, it’s the latter point I am making. Right or wrong, it’s perfectly reasonable to call for more effective regulations. And it might be reasonable to blame Republicans for current failures. It’s his use of the fact that regulations are being subverted exactly the way free market advocates predict they would as a criticism of free markets that I find objectionable.

]]> By: Ben http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/1176.html#comment-343634 Ben Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:19:34 +0000 http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/1176.html#comment-343634 A call for effective regulation is not the least bit absurd. Unless, of course, you believe that effective regulation is an oxymoron - a belief you generally seem to hold and I do not hold. Krugman blames the Republicans who cut the funding for the FDA, thereby denying it the resources to do its job effectively. I don't know if you call the Republicans "free market advocates" but I'm pretty sure an anti-regulatory ideology was the reason behind the cut in funding. So, yes, I think it's logical to blame them. Perhaps he's wrong to equate free-market advocates with business interests. That's a distinction I know you hold dear. (Although I'm not even sure he does that. After all, Krugman points out how some decisions undermine the free market, like that thing about testing one's own beef.) Perhaps the distinction is between those who say government regulation is bad and believe it...and those who only say it until they control the government regulation and *$#% it up. A call for effective regulation is not the least bit absurd. Unless, of course, you believe that effective regulation is an oxymoron - a belief you generally seem to hold and I do not hold.

Krugman blames the Republicans who cut the funding for the FDA, thereby denying it the resources to do its job effectively. I don’t know if you call the Republicans “free market advocates” but I’m pretty sure an anti-regulatory ideology was the reason behind the cut in funding. So, yes, I think it’s logical to blame them.

Perhaps he’s wrong to equate free-market advocates with business interests. That’s a distinction I know you hold dear. (Although I’m not even sure he does that. After all, Krugman points out how some decisions undermine the free market, like that thing about testing one’s own beef.) Perhaps the distinction is between those who say government regulation is bad and believe it…and those who only say it until they control the government regulation and *$#% it up.

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