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A comment on 'Moment of reckoning': US cities burn recyclables after China bans imports. Parent comment

Re:'Moment of reckoning': US cities burn recyclables after C... by merpnderp on Wednesday February 27, 2019 @09:40AM (#19263483)
Why would you say the free market has failed? If you're assigning blame shouldn't you be pointing at the democracy which regulates the market? You disagree with how a majority of your fellow citizens vote, so either you were simply outvoted on what is important, or you believe democracy failed.
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Re:'Moment of reckoning': US cities burn recyclables after C... by _jal on Wednesday February 27, 2019 @10:06AM (#19263644)
Not the OP, but this is straightforward: the market fails to price externalities. Costs are distorted and borne by others. You can regulate it, but if you have sufficient control to price in all externalities and then do so, you are not talking about a 'free market' anymore.

And what is the role of democracy in regulating global public goods? How are you going to vote on environmental protections on other continents?

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Re:'Moment of reckoning': US cities burn recyclables after C... by merpnderp on Wednesday February 27, 2019 @10:40AM (#19263863)
Just because you add a few more rules to a free market doesn't cease to mean it is a free market.

"How are you going to vote on environmental protections on other continents?"

Trade negotiations? Or are you asking if invasion and war are an option, which they absolutely are not.

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