Bad critiques of anarchism/the free market

Miscellaneous General
1

I was suprised to find, in a philosophy book, a treatment of anarchism. It actually had good points in favor of anarchism. But when it critiqued why such a system is not desirable, it fell to pieces.

The first critique was that certain needs could not be met by the market. To justify, it used healthcare as an example, arguing that someone could not shop around when ill. But the problem with that argument is it doesn’t consider that people can arrange healthcare before they are ill, including insurance as a safety net from accidental illness.

It also said that the free market doesn’t help the poor, only the rich. However, that can be torn to pieces because the poor also get richer through lower prices, more competition through jobs (leading to higher wages) as the rich get rich. Also, what about entreprenuerial innovations that help people out?

Sadly, there were no economically sound arguments in that passage.

Post other critiques that you find underwhelmingly bad.

2

My personal favorite generally follows:

  1. The government provides x good or service.

  2. Since the government is currently providing x, the free market must be unable to.

  3. If you have ever used x you are a hypocrite to say that the government shouldn’t be providing x.

3

I had one statist tell me that government provided roads are more efficient than private roads could ever be. Why?

Because the costs incurred from building tolling booths would have to be endured by private companies, but not by government, since the roads are free.