18th July 2015, 8:15 AM
Quote:Great Rumbler: A government isn't necessary to incentivize against violations of rights that may arise from your concerns. Whoever it is that you worry may break your standards has their reputation and the price they pay for insurance on the line, i.e. builders, water providers. Also intrusive pollution is a violation of universal rights to begin with.
Companies try [and often do] get away with this kind of thing EVEN WITH regulations that are specifically designed to root these problems out and punish the company/individuals responsible. Libertarianism's unflappable faith in the power of the invisible hand of the free market is ridiculously naive because it absolutely fails to take into account the ability of people with money and power to hide these kinds of problems and trick people with less power and money into thinking that what the rich and powerful are doing is actually right and proper.
Sometimes you get the scorpion.