Quote:
Originally Posted by tubasteve
Not in the same fashion. People vote/buy based on expectations, and if that expectation isn't met in politics, they are SOL for the remainder of their representative/president's term. If you buy a ****ty computer based on something you saw on the media you can take it back for a refund the next hour if you want. So while there is still some conflict of interest, it is much easier to thwart when there is competition (implying no barriers to entry and/or exit of the market).
So the advantage anarchy has over democracy is the area of return policies?
Also, you get the Apple & Orange Award for comparing voting for a representative to buying a computer. And another thing, there is competition for elected office (most of the time).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Montius
Maybe if you had the power to individually impeach the president or what have you that would be an adequate analogy.
But yes, one could say the free market represents the individual expression of democracy in that it is a decision of a person, by a person, for a person.
Which is my concern, because on some level all people are equal. Their personal purchasing power notwithstanding, so this should not be the only basis for society. That is, there should be checks on the power of money.
Quote:
Originally Posted by T50_Omaha8
In the certification business, it's likely that most of the scrutiny of certifiers would come from certifiers themselves. In a business that requires trust of the public, there is an incentive to discredit the competition.
This could be dampened somewhat by collusion and consolidation, which is permissible in ACland.
Not to mention false-accusation ****storming through covert media ops by the competition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimM
Those who have read The Tipping Point should recognize that a lot of the scrutiny of products, services, and voluntary certification agencies would be done by the people Gladwell calls mavens.
Which of course would create a huge market niche for Astroturf Mavens Consulting Co.
