Reply #17: Most markets in the world are not free. They are typically dominated by oligopolies or one monopoly. [View All]

[Selatius]

The sooner people realize this, the better off they are when they realize that at least with the government, they can kick out the politicians and hopefully find better ones who are not afraid of dealing with corporate oligarchs.

Comparative advantage works fine on paper, but in the real world, all corporations are doing is moving manufacturing to the cheapest places possible to take advantage of cost differentials between different laborers in different countries. Then, they take the profit for themselves and let everybody else deal with the social upheaval and the environmental damage inflicted.

Comparative advantage is only desirable if society as a whole benefits from it, not just a few. If only a relatively small few benefit from it, there is no point at all in trade, except for the richest. They make out ahead anyway, and they will impose it, even if it means putting their thugs on the street to crush labor protests or topple democratically elected governments that refuse to bow to their wealth and influence.

People need to realize that free markets are just a myth, as mythical as the idea of a workers' paradise. Having said that, I am not opposed to mixing a little more socialism in with the capitalism.