tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post1978408226944137809..comments2023-07-09T11:04:50.150+01:00Comments on Mike Barker: Lib Dem politics in a northern market town: Time is running outMike Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-67198694594698993562010-02-04T20:47:43.103+00:002010-02-04T20:47:43.103+00:00The economic orthodoxy that has shaped the EU'...The economic orthodoxy that has shaped the EU's creation and the policies of UK govts for the past three decades is economic liberalism.<br /><br />All talk of free markets is usually to cover corporate domination and financialisation of the UK economy and the abandonment of regulation and other forms of government intervention to protect workers, consumers, and small businesses.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443724356434212172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-33942789175194415042010-02-04T05:35:47.918+00:002010-02-04T05:35:47.918+00:00James, you presume wrong!
Liberalism, with or wit...James, you presume wrong!<br /><br />Liberalism, with or without a capital L, does not presume a free-for-all where the strongest and fittest crush the rest and dominate their environment to such an extent that the freedom of others is reduced. <br /><br />Liberalism has boundaries, James.<br /><br />There is nothing liberal about free markets being restricted, consumer choice being denied and Mike Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-73145073770716247042010-02-04T01:04:53.640+00:002010-02-04T01:04:53.640+00:00The creation of a Europe-wide single market was an...The creation of a Europe-wide single market was and is a political act rather than something which arises out of trade - and is therefore likely to be shaped by lobbying pressure, whether of a corporate or democratic nature.<br /><br />The odd thing from your perspective is that as a liberal, you would presumably oppose action to restrict the trade of companies that have excessive influence Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443724356434212172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-17452246320761256172010-02-03T15:46:53.624+00:002010-02-03T15:46:53.624+00:00Not when that single market involves the restricti...Not when that single market involves the restriction of trade. The single market should operate for the benefit of consumers and therefore it should be as open and liberal as possible.<br /><br />In this instance the drug companies exert excessive influence over the political process and wish to see the market restricted to low strength supplements which are of benefit only as a basic level Mike Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-36987179662126032062010-02-03T14:42:58.573+00:002010-02-03T14:42:58.573+00:00Thought you said a Europe-wide single market was a...Thought you said a Europe-wide single market was a good thing, Mike.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443724356434212172noreply@blogger.com