Free Market Economies

The world markets continue to totter and governments scramble to protect and bolster a system that is on the verge of imploding.

When the world's most powerful capitalist nation speaks of free market economies while maintaining trade barriers and tariffs, I become skeptical.  When the mantra is that market forces should be given free rein by non-interventionist governments, I become skeptical.  So when former US Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Voiker says, "These kinds of measures - government guarantees and interventions - are really distasteful... However distasteful, I'm afraid they were necessary in this emergency to restore some sense of stability and confidence'' my skepticism only increases.

I'm skeptical because I rarely see small companies or poor nations being protected.

I'm skeptical because I rarely see poor and powerless people protected.

I'm skeptical because I don't believe that a system without restraint will self regulate.

I guess I'm skeptical because I don't believe in the inherent goodness of human beings.  And I should know - I'm one of them.

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Comments

[Stephen]

It seems to me that the most clear understanding we can have of the consequences of that ancient event known to Christian as The Fall is that we are governed by a sinister quality known as self-interest. I too am depressingly skeptical.
Yet, this is where I see the power of Christ's message in word and deed - a complete subversion of self-interest.