A Level Playing Field For All

I was listening to the Bill Neumann Show this morning on the way to work (I'll provide a link to the podcast when/if it is posted), and he was interviewing a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who also happens to have been heavily involved in civil liberties.  The entrepreneur made the point that America is special, not because of all the chest-thumping reasons of the exceptionalists, but because of a different concept of freedom.  The Bill of Rights enshrines certain freedoms, which actually benefit businesses by providing a level playing field, from free speech onward.  Good point, but he didn't take the next step, which is something that I have been thinking about for a long time, but have yet to see really emphasized: that level playing field does not happen on its own, just by words on a  page; it is created and enforced and evolved by the government.  That is a very large part of why the government exists - to provide and enforce a level playing field, equal rights, and so on for all citizens *and* businesses.  This is of course the "burden" that businesses don't want - they don't want a level playing field; they don't want consumers protected. They want to be able to screw anyone any time they can in the pursuit of profits. I don't really need to provide examples, do I?  OK, a few: Savings and Loan debacle, Enron, Bernie Madoff, mortgage crisis, Michael Milliken, the oil companies, pay day loaners, and any number of smaller, predatory businesses that would screw you at the drop of a hat without some sort of regulation.  Car dealers anyone?  Just heard that Walmart was forced to change their advertising for "Always the lowest price," or whatever, because they actually didn't have the lowest price.  False advertising regulation.

So the next time you are bitching about government or it's regulations, or hear someone else doing the same, ask them or yourself, is this regulation or action by the government in place to help provide a level playing field?  If the answer is yes, then perhaps you should re-examine your complaint.  Is it possible that the regulation or actions could be implemented better?  Maybe - if so, get to work on improving it.  But don't just say that it should be eliminated or changed just to make your life easier.

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