Re: NACLA on RCTV

[raghu <mraghu01@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 6/7/07, Bill Lear <rael@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Boy, you really are a lawyer: if you value freedom, then you must
> desire private property.  I see.  And, that is supposed to be an
> argument, or an expression of your religious belief?  Further, to
> insinuate that those who disagree with Friedman's (nonexistent)
> argument merely do so because they don't think dissent is important is
> ludicrous.

To be fair, David Shemano (ignoring the patronizing tone) has raised
some issues that I'd like to see answered.
1) Initiatives such as land redistribution, and oil company
nationalization etc will lead to an immediate productivity loss
because of the inevitable migration of the elite. However such loss
can be a small price to pay for more equal distribution of wealth if
productivity can be quickly restored. Is there any historical
precedent where this has been successfully achieved? Perhaps the
Russian revolution?
2) What is the justification for price controls? Clearly the coops
that Michael refers to, smuggle food to Colombia because the local
price is too low. Why is the government not paying a more reasonable
price? I can understand the need for rationing on a short-term basis
during emergencies such as war. But surely David is right that
centrally-imposed price controls are unsustainable in the long run?

re: RCTV, David is dead wrong: as I understand it RCTV is a very
special case and it is not right to generalize from it to indict
Chavez' decision making process. If CNN were to show Taliban
propaganda videos, do you think they would be allowed to continue
broadcasting?

-raghu.