[derosa8]

Perhaps this is better fit for the general discussion, but it is about the unhampered market so I thought it could fit here.

Would the unhampered market be equipped to deal with a global environment problem such as climate change?

Many make the objection that we need government to step in and deal with circumstances like this because entrepenaurs are not concerned with protecting the earth for future generations.

[jmherbener]

To succeed entrepreneurs must act as agents for consumers at large arranging production in the manner people prefer. If experts can convince people of the perils of global warming, then entrepreneurs can profit by arranging their production in ways that minimize its effect on global warming. There are countless examples of businesses adopting socially acceptable practices because consumers make them profitable.

The burden of convincing others of the perils of global warming would be on the experts. Like everyone else who is trying to convince other people of the truth of their claims, in a free society the experts would have to rely on the power of their ideas and their rhetorical skills, In the free society, no one would have the power to coerce others into accepting his views on anything.

As to global warming, the evidence doesn’t look all that convincing:

http://blog.independent.org/2012/10/27/its-official-no-global-warming-since-1997/

[derosa8]

Thanks Professor Herbener. I like the “burden on the experts” idea, since the alternative would mean that some experts get to coerce the population when they feel their ideas are better.

Solid points.

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