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Old 12-10-2006, 01:28 PM
WordWhiz WordWhiz is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: F.U. Jobu, I do it myself!
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Default Benevolent govt raises price of milk

Article here

Brief synopsis: milk in the U.S. is not sold on the free market, but is rather subject to a byzantine set of regulations and price controls that artificially raise its price, thus hurting consumers. An entrepreneurial dairyman finds a loophole that allows him to sell milk for less. He outcompetes the government-operated dairy pools, makes a fortune while benefiting consumers, and everyone lives happily ever after. Oh, sorry, I just dreamed that last sentence. What really happens is his competitors spend millions of dollars buying off politicians to write a special law targeted just at him, which is passed without hearing or debate, shutting off his innovation and making losers of the American public.

The money quote:

"I still think this is a great country," Hettinga said. "In Mexico, they would have just shot me."

Is this what we've come to? The U.S. is a great country because they "legally" coerce you out of business, rather than just shooting you?

(Hat tip to cafehayek for the story)
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