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 Originally Posted by wufwugy
Most libertarians favor taxing harmful externalities like this. Ultimately, things like getting lead out of gasoline could happen without regulation just as easily as with it as long as property rights are upheld. The process would involve lawsuits against the company where the plaintiffs demonstrate how the lead in the atmosphere is harmful to their property (their bodies) and produced by the companies. This, along with public awareness/pressure, would likely have just as strong an effect on cleaning up externalities. Companies can't cheat markets
I don't trust people to get this right. It's clear to me that some people are talented at establishing and moving public opinion. The public can easily become split over a complex issue with an inability to discern the experts from the expert-fakes. I don't understand enough about the legal system to wonder on how it will fail, but I'm betting the side with the biggest pile of cash is better than no chance to win over some cold hard facts on the ground.
And in your post below the quoted, you say that people make perfect the opposite of what they don't like. I agree and partially believe this fuels the love for these theoretically free market societies. Because we have to live with the shit society with its regulations today, and don't have to deal with any of the unforseen possible fallout from these pretend societies of tomorrow.
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