X-Message-Number: 31173 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:05:48 -0800 (PST) From: Shannon <> Subject: Ben's Economic Market History Analysis I love Ben to death, and always will no matter how long that will be ;-) But with Rudi's response I had to add my own :-) -- It is an interesting read but it seems to lean heavily on pre 1930's economic theory. Entrepreneurs often fall into looking for short term self interest, ignoring long term health for the industry and frequently for themselves. A perfect free market theory relies upon perfect human rationale. To apply a political theory that arose at the same time as free market theory, we rely upon social contract between citizen and government to limit the more extreme flaws of human self interest and limitations of rationale and logic. So while government agency may not be perfect, history actually indicates that it is preferable to a totally unregulated free market. There is nothing about economics or business that suggests an immunity from the tenets of Natural Law. We all have different views, what is going on is quite complex and understood by very few--and we will learn more in time as this plays out. I loved James Hughes theories on global government and regulation of global economics over the past weekend at his Life Boat Foundation's Global Catastrophic risks talk ;-) (There was a person video recording it, and the videos should be up sometime soon :-) ) Health, Happiness, Wisdom & Longevity :-) -- best wishes from... Austin, Texas --Shannon Vyff "21st Century Kids" http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Kids-Shannon-Vyff/dp/1886057001 Subject: Ben Best provides another winner..., off topic if you conside... In a message dated 11/14/2008 5:00:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, And those of you who are wondering what caused this financial crisis might be interested to read this history: http://www.benbest.com/polecon/buscycle.html#housing -- Ben Best I don't always agree with Ben Best. However, I am in substantial agreement with this analysis of economics, with it's free market and Austrian economics spin on history. Ben's analysis and details and references would probably be good enough for most grad schools to consider it a Master's or PhD thesis in economic theory. Please don't think that recent events have repudiated basic free market theory economics. In contrast, the market distortions caused by Fed mediated lending, in which the central bank sets and maintains artificially low interest rates, may be one of the causes of the current crisis. Along, of course, with fiat based printed money, backed solely by goverment taxing and extortion policies. Everyone these days seems to have opinions they will bore you with at the drop of a hat about the economic "crisis." But, IMO, Ben has provided a historical perspective much more well informed than most. Of course, none of this may make a difference. Most of us feel dismayingly powerless regarding macro-economic matters. Sorry for the off-topic post, but Ben Best is a pretty smart fellow. I'm glad he's on our side, trying to save our individual lives... Rudi Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31173