[MD] Trending toward free markets in Europe?

[Platt Holden]

[McWatt]
> I think a more careful analysis of Labour's losses on Thursday would reveal
> that they were mostly down to the electorate blaming the Labour Party for an
> economic recession that was primarily fuelled by the mismanagement (and
> possibly greed in some cases) of certain finance companies in the North
> American sub-prime housing market and the use of cheap, sweatshop labour in
> East Asia.  I don't think the illegal US-UK occupation of Iraq (for its oil)
> helped the Labour Party either (which thinking person concerned with global
> terrorism would support this retarded policy?) and, on a more local note,
> the abolishing of the 10% tax rate in the UK which affects those on a lower
> income.

Like I said, other factors besides a desire to move towards free markets 
may explain the recent victories of the conservatives in England and 
elsewhere. But, I consider the trend a positive one and I think Pirsig 
would, too.  
 
> Regarding the MOQ and the free market, I think the latter is seen by the MOQ
> as a tool for a higher quality life rather than a social pattern which
> should be left completely unregulated as can be seen by the recent sub-prime
> housing and ENRON scandals.  At least recently, the Democrats are gaining
> more power in the States which should lead to better financial regulation
> there and the withdrawing of Western troops in Iraq that much sooner -- for
> the eventual benefit of all. 

Now that you mention it, when the Democrats took over Congress consumer
confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high, gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon, and
the unemployment rate was 4.5%. Since Democrats have been in power, 
consumer confidence has dropped, unemployment has increased, gas is now
at $3.55 a gallon, Americans have seen their home equity value drop by more 
than a trillion dollars, and there has been no wholesale withdrawal of 
forces from the Middle East as promised. Americans voted for change in 
2006. They sure got it! 

Platt

> > From: pholden at davtv.com> To: moq_discuss at moqtalk.org> Date: Sun, 4 May
> > 2008 10:27:59 -0500> Subject: [MD] Trending toward free markets in
> > Europe?> > Hi All,> > We're all familiar with Pirsig's support of free
> > markets as being better > than socialism because freedom allows DQ to
> > work. For years, Western > European countries have embraced socialism. But
> > recent elections in France, > Germany and Italy have marked a trend
> > towards free market conservatism. Now > the trend has reached England.
> > Britain's Labor Party not only lost last > week's mayoral election in
> > London but has also suffered massive losses in > local elections. > > This
> > move to the right may be explained by many factors other than a desire >
> > of the people to lift the burden of government restrictions on the free >
> > market. But when conservatives gain power, the chances of lifting some of
> > > the restrictions improve -- for the eventual benefit of all. > >
> > Regards,> Platt>