"To create conditions in which competition will be as effective as possible, to prevent fraud and deception, to break up monopolies -- these tasks provide a wide and unquestioned field for state activity."
by:
Friedrich August von Hayek
(1899-1992), Nobel Laureate of Economic Sciences 1974
Source:
The Road to Serfdom
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Reader comments about this quote:
Conditions for effective competition exist as a lawful state of nature without state activity. Fraud and deceptions' lawful scope of interaction falls within the jurisdiction of justice (already happened, not preventative). Preventative enforcement, as a political tool is tyranny. Monopolies, as a stand alone topic, neither need breaking up or otherwise. Monopolies, as unlawful exterminators of free enterprise, are to be dealt with individually at law and justice.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Mike, I think that is what Hayek is saying -- that there is plenty for the state to do preventing monopolies, fraud, deception, etc. and promoting competition rather than 'fixing the game.' Of course, the issue on whether the state can be trusted is another thing altogether.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Archer thanks, that general thought had crossed my mind. My comment was to the stand alone statement.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Competition is the fabrication of an unreal world of make believe. There's no effectiveness which to mention, and not much productivity. Cooperation, harmony, and friendship are the characteristics of the progressive forces  that are necessary to maintain our livelihoods, and so the state becomes not a mere referee, as Mr von Hayek infers, but an interested partner.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, you've obviously spent more time in mental institutions than in the real world. I used to manufacture the best product in the field. Consequently the products I produced were higher in price than the rest. And, because I paid the highest wages in the industry with the best insurance, competition for the best employees was low (that also added to the price of products). Because my products were an over-kill for most uses — it was by competitive effectiveness that I was able to up-sale my products; making happier customers.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    You had no happy customers, Mike Norwalk, for without devoted, loyal, committed relationships a human realizes they are nothing and have nothing of true value.  "Putting value on the worthless, disregarding priceless wealth." Delusions and the mental institution credentials are all yours Mr Mike Norwalk.  And despite Gordon Gecko's advise a dog is never going to be a friend in any real sense.  Your credentials keep adding up Mr Mike Norwalk.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sheesh, Fred, you obviously are more intent on trying to insult people than respond in honest dialogue and make an intellgent argument.

    You don't know Mike, what his product was, who his customers were, what its cost was, what its value was, what labor it required, how much his employees were paid, and who's Mike's devoted, loyal, and committed relationships are.  This is complete 100% projection on your part. 

    This is why you are not taken seriously, why we cannot follow you, and why we are trying to help you come to terms with the reality that there are 8 billion other people who may have their OWN ideas about how they would like to exercise their freedom and apply their labors.  Maybe, if you can get off your high horse and join the human race, you might find mutual support for your dreams for humanity.  But start with yourself, please.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Mr Archer I do project as well as display loyalty and commitment in my relationships. I don't insult typically, I just relay what this psychotic arrangement reveals. To perceive my cause seriously you have to real yourself.  As far as products I produce human beings, the conventional world produces it's "grave digger,."


     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    To continue Mr Archer the conventional world produces it's grave digger and about anything else they produce assists in that process. The Social being leads you away from the grave.


     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    So you produce nothing except children I suppose? The rest of us produce 'grave diggers' is that it? Another non-answer. Can you not make a coherent statement of fact?
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Response to Mr Archer: It is written "that the child is not quite human," and therefore I am left to produce an adult. The Socialist social system is the world of adults and so Karl Marx and I are made to agree on this point.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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