“The last remnants of the American free-market system are experiencing a quick death by strangulation.”
I think statements like this are damaging and inaccurate. Not to suggest that I support what the Federal Government is doing in the case of GM but to suggest that the free-market is almost dead is a huge over genrealization of the facts. The free-market is much larger than a couple of auto manufacturers and banks. While these action do serve to limit the free-market there are many businesses and markets that the government has not interfered with. It is a great opening statement in that it attracts the intrest of the reader but it also servers to discredit the points and opinions following as an extreme, highly politicized view.
If the debate is to be taken seriously people need to be careful of avoiding such statements of broad generalization. Stick to the facts and keep the arguments in scope with the issues. One of the biggest attractions for libertarianism in my view is that they don’t politicize issues to the degree the the Dem and GOP do. Caluse rhetoric has its place but for a sober and serious debate we must maintain a grip on reality. Otherwise we run the risk of being labeled extremist crack pots and can be easily discounted.
Just my $2.50 (after inflation).