The whole Libertarian movement is based on a false assumption that the market place will pick the best solution. Some of this is based on Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman's economic work. Taking his work and applying it to the real world is making the false assumption that there is a true free market anywhere in the real world. It is human nature for people to gain an advantage over others. This alone will break the free market model.
People will use all available methods to game the system. Personal ethics may make some method unavailable to some people but this is unreliable at preventing them being used. People will use information not widely available, bribes, deceit, misinformation, and any number of other methods to tip the supposed free market favorably to their advantage. This part of human nature causes the free market model many issues in real life.
The best that can be hoped for is a mostly free market. That is where government regulations can help. They are not a perfect answer but in real life there rarely is. Those regulations will place rules with penalties on certain methods and tactics that one can use to leverage a market in favor of some at the detriment of others. This is the dreaded regulations. In the real world only a well regulated market is going to behave close to the theoretical free market.
As we have seen since the 1980's deregulation initially has benefits because for a short time the parties involved continue to follow the previous rules. Once they understand the new marketplace then they start using unfair methods and tactics that were previously prohibited for their personal gain at the expense of others. The longer the restrictions are missing the more the market deviates from a free market. Eventually the market has become so unbalanced that you start have wild fluctuations. The housing market price bubble of the early 2000's and its plummet in 2008 is a good example. Other outcomes in markets without proper regulation is persons or corporations taking on unreasonable risks due to the potential profits. The problem is that if those risky decisions go bad there is a fatal collapse. This happened to the "Savings and Loan" industry in the 1995 and the banking industry in 2008 where the institutions took on unsustainable levels of risk leading to a major government action to prevent an economic collapse.
It is often stated that government regulations stifle growth. While that is partially true the point is to make sure that the growth is only coming about through sustainable and equatable means. In the US one of the major battles between the two major parties has been over the amount and type regulations and not only the ones related to finance. Since the 1980's the GOP has been reducing regulations many of which were imposed after the market collapse that lead to the Great Depression and the Democratic Party has been either unwilling or unable to stem this tide. This has led to things like the Arthur Anderson facilitating the Enron bankruptcy and the need for the auto industry and banking bailouts.
We need to reinstate checks and balances on the markets. Not necessarily the exact ones removed but at least ones that will stabilize the marketplaces as well as the old ones did. This is the antithesis of the Libertarian agenda but is the only way to achieve a market which will perform closer to the theoretical free market of the economic models.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Why Does the Vatican Ban Catholics Joining the Masons?
Being a Mason and not a Catholic* I am confused by the ban on membership by the Vatican. The Masonic Order being an organization that promotes tolerance I find the ban by the Church strange. As a non-catholic it seems to me that Masonic teachings of morality, virtue, and charity are exactly the same as the Church.
While Masons are not required to believe in any particular religious dogma we are required to believe in a supreme being. If that takes the form of the Holy Trinity, no problem. The Masonic teachings and rituals do not try to supplant anyone's religious beliefs. We refer to the supreme being as the Grand Architect of the Universe which fits in with our use of the tools of the stone builders trade to teach moral values. As an architect is the overall guide to the construction of buildings, so is the Grand Architect of the Universe is our guide to building ourselves into better men.
Our oaths and obligations are worded to put the duty to family, religion, and country before any duty to the Masonic Order or our fraternal brothers. I would think that these declarations would not put us in conflict with any religion. Well at least any religion that allows for human free will and it is my belief that Catholics allow free will. Our secrets, there really are very few, are only related to keeping our meetings private, only allowing in those who have taken our oaths.
There are two topics forbidden in Masonic meetings, religion and politics. Religion because that is an individual choice and not to be scrutinized or criticized by anyone. Politics because not only is it a personal choice, it is a topic that inherently divides people. Our order strives for harmony and the discord that can be generated by talk of politics is the antithesis of that. Again this is not inherently against the Catholic teachings.
As an organization the Masons are about charity to others. We are about helping fellow Masons, their widows and orphans, and any less fortunate than ourselves. Some of the appendant bodies have more specific charities, for the Scottish Rite it is dyslexia, for the Shrine it is the hospitals for children. Again I don't see what issue the Vatican has against the Masons.
I am still left with the question why does the Vatican still feel that the Masons are a group that Catholics should not belong to?
* Just for full disclosure I have never been a christian. I am current either a deist or an agnostic though I was raised to believe in a specific religion. Growing up and living as a non-christian in a country where the majority is christian has given me a different perspective on things. The founding fathers of the United States were very careful not to promote any religion over any other, even though a majority were christian. This fact is lost on many people today.
While Masons are not required to believe in any particular religious dogma we are required to believe in a supreme being. If that takes the form of the Holy Trinity, no problem. The Masonic teachings and rituals do not try to supplant anyone's religious beliefs. We refer to the supreme being as the Grand Architect of the Universe which fits in with our use of the tools of the stone builders trade to teach moral values. As an architect is the overall guide to the construction of buildings, so is the Grand Architect of the Universe is our guide to building ourselves into better men.
Our oaths and obligations are worded to put the duty to family, religion, and country before any duty to the Masonic Order or our fraternal brothers. I would think that these declarations would not put us in conflict with any religion. Well at least any religion that allows for human free will and it is my belief that Catholics allow free will. Our secrets, there really are very few, are only related to keeping our meetings private, only allowing in those who have taken our oaths.
There are two topics forbidden in Masonic meetings, religion and politics. Religion because that is an individual choice and not to be scrutinized or criticized by anyone. Politics because not only is it a personal choice, it is a topic that inherently divides people. Our order strives for harmony and the discord that can be generated by talk of politics is the antithesis of that. Again this is not inherently against the Catholic teachings.
As an organization the Masons are about charity to others. We are about helping fellow Masons, their widows and orphans, and any less fortunate than ourselves. Some of the appendant bodies have more specific charities, for the Scottish Rite it is dyslexia, for the Shrine it is the hospitals for children. Again I don't see what issue the Vatican has against the Masons.
I am still left with the question why does the Vatican still feel that the Masons are a group that Catholics should not belong to?
* Just for full disclosure I have never been a christian. I am current either a deist or an agnostic though I was raised to believe in a specific religion. Growing up and living as a non-christian in a country where the majority is christian has given me a different perspective on things. The founding fathers of the United States were very careful not to promote any religion over any other, even though a majority were christian. This fact is lost on many people today.
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