Re: priming the world pump

[Jim Devien <JNDF%LMUACAD.BITNET@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bruce, it's important to separate laissez-faire _in theory_ (the
vision that the "free market" automatically promotes human happiness
if it were simply left alone except for the enforcement of contracts
and the like by the state) and laissez-faire _in practice_.  The
latter is simply the use of the state to promote the happiness of
the very rich and their corporations, usually embellished with
rhetoric about how these subsidies will trickle down to the masses.
For example, Reagan was laissez faire in his rhetoric about
"getting the guvmint off of our backs" but was perfectly
willing to invade peoples' civil liberties or to use the power
of the state to smash Nicaragua.  He did absolutely everything
he could get away with to help the rich and make the poor
pay for this.

sincerely,

Jim Devine
jndf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950