You might think that many of the "profits" made by polluters are ill gotten gains. The economic activity they generate would hardly pay for the cleanup costs.
I hold firm to the idea that unregulated corporations will do things like pollute, treat workers unfairly, and provide potentially dangerous products. I'm not talking about guns, but rather about baby toys that contain lead, ladders that break, and "bag-o-broken glass" type stuff. In this case, the market might tolerate a product that kills 40 people nationwide (or even 400!) but I think we all agree that the government is justified in keeping such products off the market, and in holding companies that produce them responsible.
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Capitalism is a great tool for humanity to use. If you blame it you don't understand it.
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On the contrary, you can understand it well, and then point out its problems, and perhaps even "blame" it for a lot of things. However, it would be foolish to advocate an unregulated market. In a lot of circumstances, capitalism is a fine way or organizing production. However, when companies reach a certain size, or have a certain kind of leadership, they can behave in ways that undermine the market. You might say that this is the result of deviation from capitalism, or business outside the capitalist ethic, but the truth is that such behavior is born out that system. Regulation can prevent these things, and
produce a purer form of capitalism. Think of it that way.
Capitalism or "the free market" or whatever you call it is a valuable tool, and is responsible for a lot of the success America has had. However, never believe it is perfect. Nothing is.