muckdog,

An interesting question is what is a "Free Market"? Footbal, Tennis, Basseball etc all are played with referees and umpires, ie a set of rules.

Birds flock using a set of rules. What should be the minimum set of rules that defines a "free market"?

For example, how do we compete fairly agianst economies with very cheap labor and that do not abide by even reasonable Intellectual Property rules? Can we form a strong enough coalition to "enforce" a fair and balanced IP policy around the globe? Or must we give up on IP altogether?

I for one am perfectly happy with the copyright laws as envisioned by the Founders. I reject the nasty habit of extending copyright ad infinitum with the result that nothing has entered the public domain in the US for many decades.

If we use copyright to quash innovation and to protect incumbents unreasonably, we also lock the emerging markets into permanent poverty. How do we get back to a fair and balanced IP regime that works for all the countries of the world?

Thanks for commenting.

Regards,

Jock