Should the government interfere in the economy?

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

Should the government interfere in the economy via regulation, bailouts etc? Why/Why not? Also, is a budget deficit or a budget surplus better for the nation as a whole? Cite some examples eg.lower tax rates, richer nation etc

[Collective Systems (Ancient)]

Despite popular belief, we'd be even more fucked if they didn't interfere somewhat.

[Soratsin]

Yes to interference, we had a period of zero interference, it resulted in bank runs, financial panic, and the great depression. That being said, if the economy is running smoothly then there is no purpose for government interference.

As for surplus/deficit thing, personally I'd prefer a controlled deficit, if the government is going to take money out of my paychecks they better be spending all of it, preferably on something that benefits me or the nation.

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

Despite popular belief, we'd be even more fucked if they didn't interfere somewhat.

Also, I have another question: Should companies be forced to pay the state back after they receive a bailout and recover?

[Collective Systems (Ancient)]

Banks are just ways to keep the worker class suffering. I will not respond to that question.

[Natapoc]

Despite popular belief, we'd be even more fucked if they didn't interfere somewhat.

Also, I have another question: Should banks be forced to pay the state back after they receive a bailout and recover?

Yes they should and with interest.

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

Yes to interference, we had a period of zero interference, it resulted in bank runs, financial panic, and the great depression. That being said, if the economy is running smoothly then there is no purpose for government interference.

As for surplus/deficit thing, personally I'd prefer a controlled deficit, if the government is going to take money out of my paychecks they better be spending all of it, preferably on something that benefits me or the nation.

Well, if there's a surplus, would you prefer if they return it back to you?

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

Despite popular belief, we'd be even more fucked if they didn't interfere somewhat.

Also, I have another question: Should banks be forced to pay the state back after they receive a bailout and recover?

Yes they should and with interest.

So the bailout is in effect a loan?

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

Banks are just ways to keep the worker class suffering. I will not respond to that question.

What if it's a subsidy to the individual worker?

[Parthenon]

No.

[Hindopia]

Should the government interfere in the economy via regulation, bailouts etc? Why/Why not? Also, is a budget deficit or a budget surplus better for the nation as a whole? Cite some examples eg.lower tax rates, richer nation etc

As long as we keep throwing money at them, they'll do fine.

[Eternal Yerushalayim]

No.

The deficit part?

[Delator]

No.

I love how you can make this statement without a single shred of evidence.

[Hindopia]

No.

The deficit part?

I think he means that as an answer to "should the govt interfere in the economy".

[Natapoc]

Despite popular belief, we'd be even more fucked if they didn't interfere somewhat.

Also, I have another question: Should banks be forced to pay the state back after they receive a bailout and recover?

Yes they should and with interest.

So the bailout is in effect a loan?

Either that or the American people get ownership shares and vote directly on how to control the banks with profits from dividends going directly to the people. .

[Collective Systems (Ancient)]

He doesn't need evidence. That was an opinion.

[Pope Joan]

business cannot regulate itself.

it's like trying to play football and findingnyourself in a constant rugger.

You need some rules and a referee, or the game breaks down.

Of course, there can also be over-officiating.

But I do like my sports analogy. A few wise rules, well enforced, make the game more enjoyable.

[Former Principalities]

The government should only intervene when a crisis calls for intervention, otherwise they should try to stay out as much as they can. The government should for the most part act as a regulatory body and reprimand those firms who don't play by the rules.

For example, if a company wants to lay down some infrastructure such as electricity cables, they'd get a quote, have their financiers negotiate with the cable suppliers etc, and generally get themselves a fair price. However if the government set up infrastructure like that they don't bother negotiating for fairer prices, and may not even get a quote, thus it could cost the government more money to set up the same infrastructure than would cost a company. Mind you this is small-scale stuff....

As for deficits vs. surpluses, both are good, depending on your viewpoint. A deficit is good because it encourages foreign borrowing and keeps capital flowing through an economy, though excessive borrowing is to be avoided. A surplus represents inflow of money into the economy, so that HAS to be good, as it represents more money received for exports, and can also lead to increased investment overseas.

That's my 2 cents anyway....

[The UCCS]

If capitalism is to work, we need government interference. The Fed allowed a bubble to be created.
We're about to see a bubble pop with gold, by the way.

[Parthenon]

The economy has rules...

Supply and Demand

[Natapoc]

If capitalism is to work, we need government interference. The Fed allowed a bubble to be created.
We're about to see a bubble pop with gold, by the way.

You feel gold is going to go down greatly? That would be really funny to watch.

[The Parthians]

No. See Road to Serfdom.

[The UCCS]

The economy has rules...

Supply and Demand

The rules are theoretical, wait what? What does supply and demand have to do with anything?

[Regillus (Ancient)]

no, business should be allowed to fail and go bankrupt. The fact that Bush saved those big corporations is a sign that government only cares about the big businesses. Is it fair that the government takes money from taxpayers to save a mismanaged, uncompetitive businesses? This is welfare for the rich, but Bush and other conservatives like him don't want welfare for the poor. When the poor fail, government don't give bail out.

[The UCCS]

If capitalism is to work, we need government interference. The Fed allowed a bubble to be created.
We're about to see a bubble pop with gold, by the way.

You feel gold is going to go down greatly? That would be really funny to watch.

Not yet. I want it to get to great depression standards, so I can start quoting Das Kapital again.