Yes, in a truly free market and they would be put in prison by the government. I cannot claim to be an expert on Ayn Rand, but much of her proponents seem to blindly believe that companies will, by default, do what is right. Maybe I shouldn't judge her by her followers' attitudes, but the way I see it is that business and government should keep each other in check. I think that some deregulation is good, but at the same time, I side with what Michael Savage about overly-deregulating the EPA, for example. It needs an overhaul, but not to be eliminated in favor of letting businesses do whatever they want.
Rand's view was "minarchism," which she defined as the government's ONLY functions should be (a) Military, (b) Police, and (c) Courts.
She favored a voluntary contractual fee system, where when people engage in contracts (happens every day), fees would be paid and that would fund government. Not saying that is the best system, just what she advocated.
Companies will not necessarily do what is right. However, what is missed by MOST people is this: Governments almost NEVER do what is right, and private business USUALLY do. The main exception to that is when a private business or industry has PROTECTION from CORRUPT GOVERNMENT -- such as we see in Big Pharma, Big Agriculture, Big Media, Big Oil, etc. Why are these all "big?" Because they are in bed with Big Government, and the bribes pay for those special favors (which would not exist in a real free market).
BTW, the EPA is the #1 biggest polluter in America. Elimination is the ONLY thing worth talking about when it comes to EPA, Health and Human Services, Department of Education ... see a pattern?
Yes, in a truly free market and they would be put in prison by the government. I cannot claim to be an expert on Ayn Rand, but much of her proponents seem to blindly believe that companies will, by default, do what is right. Maybe I shouldn't judge her by her followers' attitudes, but the way I see it is that business and government should keep each other in check. I think that some deregulation is good, but at the same time, I side with what Michael Savage about overly-deregulating the EPA, for example. It needs an overhaul, but not to be eliminated in favor of letting businesses do whatever they want.
Rand's view was "minarchism," which she defined as the government's ONLY functions should be (a) Military, (b) Police, and (c) Courts.
She favored a voluntary contractual fee system, where when people engage in contracts (happens every day), fees would be paid and that would fund government. Not saying that is the best system, just what she advocated.
Companies will not necessarily do what is right. However, what is missed by MOST people is this: Governments almost NEVER do what is right, and private business USUALLY do. The main exception to that is when a private business or industry has PROTECTION from CORRUPT GOVERNMENT -- such as we see in Big Pharma, Big Agriculture, Big Media, Big Oil, etc. Why are these all "big?" Because they are in bed with Big Government, and the bribes pay for those special favors (which would not exist in a real free market).
BTW, the EPA is the #1 biggest polluter in America. Elimination is the ONLY thing worth talking about when it comes to EPA, Health and Human Services, Department of Education ... see a pattern?