Howdy: Here's my justification for this question: Milton Friedman declared on C-span that "The Road to Serfdom" was the book that inspired him to become a libertarian. So please consider the following:
In the Road to Serfdom, Hayek takes great pains to distinguish between free vs. competitive markets. The first are considered to be very contrary to, let's say, American values, while the latter are considered to be in line with said values. Free markets are bad, according to Hayek, e.g. the monopolist should be the "economic whipping boy" to such an extent that any monopolist will welcome competition rather than continue to be a monopolist and suffer the regulation/abuse of government. Additionally, Hayek makes clear extensive oppornuties for government intervention to ensure a competitive market rather than a free market. Please, please, please!!! Will the advocates of the "free" market, and those uninterested who have an opinion, please rectify their conception of the free market with the competitive market so that it doesn't offend "The Road To Serfdom." Begging enlightment, jsh __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com