I’m watching a live Q and A with Andrew Coyne over here.
The following question was just asked:
“Ever since your speech at Manning Networking Conference, I have wanted to hear more about how you are a socialist who believes in markets. How do you square that circle?”
by jolyon
Coyne’s answer:
“Very simply: markets are social institutions. They’re not simply the absence of government. They’re an alternate way of achieving social goals. Some things can only be done through government, notably achieving a just distribution of income, and we shouldn’t shy away from that. But some things are better achieved through markets, notably an efficient allocation of resources. The key is to let each institution do the thing it’s best at, and not “cross the wires.”
Give you an example: a whole generation of environmentalists has grown up understanding the market’s possibilities as an instrument for encouraging people to take better care of the environment (see “carbon taxes”.) There’s likewise every possibility to make better uses of markets in the provision of public services like health care and education — not out of hostility to their social goals, but as a way of delivering better public services.”
The question I submitted (which I’m pretty sure is not getting through) was, “Can Peter Mansbridge be any LESS objective when it comes to discussions of PM Harper? His disdain is not even veiled – it’s transparent.”
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