On 17/01/2011 21:16, Herbert Graf wrote:
> I personally take the position of "less government is better", although
> I often read that as "less babysitting is better".
>

I lean towards this side also, the babysitting part certainly...

> Sure, this product clearly doesn't do what's claimed to those in the
> know. But where does personal responsibility start? Why is it
> unreasonable to think a consumer should research something before they
> buy it? Why do so many members of the public simply say "the government
> should control this sort of stuff". What sort of stuff? What about
> "magnetic bracelets"? What about homeopathic "medicine"? Fortune
> tellers? The lottery? Where should the government stop controlling stuff
> and let the consumer take responsibility for what they buy?
>
> I guees I can accept the government enforcing ad standards (stopping
> blatant lies in advertising), but even there I often see things going
> too far.
>

I guess it's like most of life, some sort of balance is needed...
I think extremes are usually to be avoided, i.e. either no standards, or=20
unachievable rigidly enforced standards.
It's possible that where it's at is about as good as it gets  (which=20
probably says more about how human beings work than their systems..  :-)  )

> I guess what I'm saying is this: consumers should NOT rely on the
> "authorities" to control what products they can buy, they should do
> their own research and make their own decisions.
>

Again, balance needed I think - for instance I think it would be good to=20
be able to (some reasonable extent) rely on (possibly life=20
preserving/extending) medical (and other "important") products.
Also, I do care about others and don't mind them spending a little of my=20
money to help those who may not know (maybe never got the chance to=20
know) any better.
This kind of subject has so many perspectives, with very little to pin=20
down firmly...
(i.e. moves very slowly - philosophers are still arguing about the same=20
problems they were back in Platos day... just give them different names=20
from time to time... :-)  )


--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.