I'm not being critical of free markets. In fact, I think that they are wonderful. On the contrary, my point is without regulation and oversight from a democratically elected government there are no free markets. I thought you agreed with that.

And no, I don't believe governments are "superior" or more moral or efficient or less corrupt than private enterprise. I am very well aware even the most enlightened democracies can be subverted by demagogues, public apathy, criminals, foreign interference, corruption, lobbies or crooked politicians on both sides of the aisle. That's what's happening in my country right now.

We have some ability to control our government. We have the vote, we can engage in political speech and action. We can run for office If necessary, we can go start a revolution. But there is no way we can modify or control capitalism except by government regulation of commerce; especially when its boosters keep telling us; "Let the businessmen do whatever they want and everything will be all right. They know what they’re doing. Trust them. The Free Fucking Market is all you need...its a Law of Nature.".

Even with all its shortcomings, I have more faith in democracy than I do in business. The primary defining skill of any successful businessman is to figure out how to get AROUND the checks and balances of the free market. And of course, they have the resources to do so as well as the ultimate incentive. They can't help themselves.

In spite of gravity, the atmosphere is filled with biplanes, baseballs, blimps and bullets. The whole point of human ingenuity is to find ways to subvert the so-called Laws of Nature.