xj220c wrote: Roster, take a look at the back of your iPod. See that little symbol that says "CE"? That's the regulatory mark showing you that, amongst other things, it's been tested not to put out radio interference that can mess up your TV, cell phone, and pacemaker.
Look on the back of your television. See the "UL" mark? That means that it's been designed so that it won't burn down your house and kill your kids.
Stop at the gas station. See all the unleaded gas? That's to keep lead from filling the air and turning our kids into imbeciles.
We're delusional? Almost everything you buy is regulated for safety in one way or another. That's true from the cotton clothing you wear that's no longer treated with cancer-causing dyes to the car you drive to work in that's built with mandatory seat belts, air bags, and auto safety glass.
The quality of goods has soared. The price of goods has fallen. And it's all happened with safety regulations that protect consumers, give them confidence to buy, and provide them with greater value through the higher quality designs that the regulations require.
Believe it or not, you live in a country where you take advantage of the regulatory system each and every day in almost every single thing you do. You, and the rest of America, will live ten to twenty years longer and have a healthier, more comfortable life because of it. You then complain about how hard you've got it and how the government needs to take action to get out of your life. Really?
Delusional? I can't say with certainty, but you do have an
imaginative mind when it comes to replying to my posts. I have never objected to laws prohibiting the use of lead in gasoline. I have never criticized UL marks. UL is an independent organization with no power to regulate or coerce and some manufacturers voluntarily seek the rights to their mark.
So because lead in gasoline is undesirable, we should have FDA regulation of CPAPs, licensing of CPAP retailers, and prescription requirements? That logic doesn't work.
Just tell me what these regulations, licensing and prescriptions are protecting me from??? I don't believe it is lead in gasoline. What are they protecting me from and what are they protecting new patients from???
You made this statement earlier:
I also know that most medical device makers do everything they can to just barely meet the minimum acceptable safety standards of their products - and I've been in more than one US factory where it's clear that even the minimums aren't being met despite what management was reporting to the FDA.
So then it is clear from this example, the regulations are
not protecting me. My nanny-government cannot protect me.
That is why I want an open market - a market where the suppliers are at my mercy to choose - a market where we will all walk quickly away from suppliers we are not happy with and watch them fail. A market where the suppliers protect me because they want my business and they want to stay in business.
I don't want the kind of market you prefer - a market where the "bad" suppliers are protected by the regulators and their bureaucrats and the regulations - a market where the "bad" suppliers remain entrenched because my choices are limited by government. A market where even you admit minimum standards are not being met. I want a market where standards are exceeded because it is a free market with plenty of competition and the constant threat of new market entrants if the customers aren't happy.
All of that happens when government stay out of markets. When governments get in quality, safety, innovation and price suffer.
Just tell me what these regulations, licensing and prescriptions are protecting me from??? What are they protecting me from and what are they protecting new patients from???
If you can't answer those two questions, I can and will.
