Quote from piezoe:
Achilles, you seem to be advocating capitalism rather than socialism, but if so, you're making very little sense. Well, no sense at all really. You seem to have somehow confused the concept of a "free market" with "capitalism".
In practice, these are opposites! Free market capitalism without regulation is an oxymoron! Real capitalists are reviled by the very idea of free markets, and if left unfettered will of course do all in their power to eliminate or weaken competition, and to establish cartels and monopolies. As a good, red-blooded capitalist, I know I certainly would, if I'm allowed to get away with it.
Don't get me wrong though, the basic definition of capitalism, where capital and the means of production are in private hands, does not require monopolies and cartels, nor even the elimination of competition. But left unfettered, without regulation, capitalism will become what we call corporatism and the second and third definitions of capitalism you will find in most dictionaries will be what you will experience.
In an atmosphere of "[no] regulation" that you propose, it is impossible to have capitalism that does not degenerate into corporatism and corruption.
Sorry to say, your statement: "The free market works just fine, if you leave it alone " is utter nonsense!!!