The correct conservative vs liberal economic balance for America
Posted By RichC on June 14, 2018
Americans are struggling once again with carrots, sticks and tariffs event though throughout our history we have always been advocates for "free trade" … believing that in the end open trade wins. Unfortunately it isn’t always that simple when it is your job, your house and your life on the line. It is understandable that we want a little more "fair" trade … and seem to be willing to be a little more combative with those who are unfairly taking advantage of us.
At the same time we struggle with our own philosophies, wanted to simplify the position we take. I read and excellent opinion article citing a University of Chicago 
professor, Eric Posner and think-tank economist Glen Weyl who both see things from the libertarian spectrum, and recognize the shortcomings at a time we are concerned with "inequality" and "monopolies."
Weyl born into a Democratic family, was moved by the writings of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman and co-wrote a book with Mr. Poser, Radical Markets: Uprooting Capitalism and Democracy for a Just Society … which has some pretty radical ideas (ie. require all property owners to name the price at which they would sell. Their taxes would then be based on that price. If you really value your property more than anyone else, you can keep it out of others’ hands by raising your assessed price and paying more tax).
The comment that stuck with me when thinking about "my" conservative view was … “we were promised…if we cut taxes and allowed more inequality we’d get faster growth. But at the costs of monopolies and at the excessive prices they charge. Those costs to all “have risen more than government taxes have fallen. So we have seen stagnation right along with inequality.”
That conservative failure, following the failure of liberal policies in the 1970s is why “people hate the technocracy.”
Now that hasn’t turn me into a Bernie Sander socialist, but does help when discussing with other libertarian minded friends who look at things far too simplistically. Speaking of socialism and Sanders … here was an excellent piece by the economist Walter E. Williams.
Why Capitalism Is Morally Superior to Socialism
by Walter E. Williams
Free market capitalism in America has been so successful in eliminating the traditional problems of mankind—such as disease, pestilence, hunger, and gross poverty—that all other human problems appear both unbearable and inexcusable.
Several recent polls, plus the popularity of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., demonstrate that young people prefer socialism to free market capitalism.
That, I believe, is a result of their ignorance and indoctrination during their school years, from kindergarten through college. For the most part, neither they nor many of their teachers and professors know what free market capitalism is.
Free market capitalism, wherein there is peaceful voluntary exchange, is morally superior to any other economic system. Why? Let’s start with my initial premise.
