Is the concept of a "free market" important to you?

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

As in, is it something you view as vital to a society?

[Maxwell]

I don't the free market really is attainable nor is it ideal. I think there has to be elements of the economy determined by the market and elements of the economy that are socialized. (Moderate Left answer?)

[Mr. Smith]

The words are an oxymoron.

[Kingpoleon]

The words are an oxymoron.

Same with economic equality.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Obviously it's better than a command economy in at least some situations, but it's not something I'm committed to either morally or emotionally, no.

[JA]

No

[Antonio the Sixth]

Not inherently, no. I'm open to defenses of it rooted on other values that are actually important to me though.

[RFayette]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

[DavidB.]

Lean yes, but from a pragmatic point of view: countries without a free market are usually simply less free and less prosperous. However, the government should absolutely step in to maintain an acceptable level of prosperity for everybody.

[mvd10]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

[dead0man]

It's way better than any alternative.

[Person Man]

It would be great if it actually existed. Unregulated markets are not free markets. 

[heatcharger]

Lean yes, but from a pragmatic point of view: countries without a free market are usually simply less free and less prosperous. However, the government should absolutely step in to maintain an acceptable level of prosperity for everybody.

[All Along The Watchtower]

No, because this concept is a vapid ideological talking point.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

[Beet]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

Yes but it made possible such an increase in the population to begin with. Hence its arguably created more poverty than its eliminated. And far, far, far more pollution. I'm no tankie by any means, but Scandinavian-style social democracy appears to be the optimal compromise.

[SATW]

yes

[Goldwater]

Yes, though my idea of a "free market" probably doesn't not quote match up with the anarcho-capitalist one.

[RI]

Not in the slightest.

[RINO Tom]

It's way better than any alternative.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

It's a tool, that often is very useful.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Yes, very much so.

[RFayette]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

Yes but it made possible such an increase in the population to begin with. Hence its arguably created more poverty than its eliminated. And far, far, far more pollution. I'm no tankie by any means, but Scandinavian-style social democracy appears to be the optimal compromise.

Um, poverty in modern industrialized countries today is nothing like poverty 300 years ago, so this is a false equivalency.  Also, Scandanavian-style social democracy is made possible only through the immense economic output produced by the free market, though I contend such a system only works in small populations and tightly-bound communities.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Yes - more fundamentally, I believe capitalism is, while not perfect, the most moral economic system ever conceived and has helped lift billions out of poverty.  So yes, I'd definitely describe myself as a big fan of free markets.

     This. Free markets have their limitations and it is important to recognize this, but at the same time they have done a great deal of good.

[parochial boy]

No, because this concept is a vapid ideological talking point.

This is the correct answer