Re: [CH] Chiles and Free Market concepts...

Constance Allen (callen@sirius.com)
Mon, 02 Feb 1998 08:22:33 -0800 

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That's a good response, Rich.  Thanks!


_____________
Constance Allen
aka Fig Newton (Rumpole's Private Detective)
San Jose, California

mailto:callen@sirius.com

Rich McCormack wrote:
> 
> Regarding the Subject: Re: [CH] Powder and Comments
> 
> I realize this subject seems to have wandered off topic and become
> non chile related, but that's not entirely true.  I've subscribed to
> the C-H mailing list for 2 or 3 years and have seen people come and go
> and post their ideas and dreams of turning their chile related hobby
> into a business.  Most seem more interested in sharing the joys of
> their hobby rather than making a profit...though I'm sure profit is
> part of their dream.
> 
> Some apparently have been successful...there's quite a few subscribers
> who are in the business of selling chile related products of one form
> or another.  I assume they've all gone through the steps required by
> various government agencies from city or county business license to
> state sellers permit and on through local, state, and perhaps even
> federal food and health regulatory agencies...all of which comprise the
> stumbling blocks of bureaucratic red tape and government regulation I
> mentioned as being in the way of individual enterprise and entry into
> the world of commercial production.  In further comment, I suggested
> that free market self regulatory mechanisms would be more economical
> and just as effective, if not more so, than volumes of government
> regulation and layers of government bureaurocacy...and that prompted
> several private (and to the C-H list) questions and comments:
> 
> >Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 09:35:55 -0800
> >From: Constance Allen <callen@sirius.com>
> 
> >I don't understand what is meant by "free market self-regulation through
> >voluntary association and certification".
> 
> >Would this mean that the beef industry would monitor the quality of the
> >meat
> >we buy?
> 
> >Or that the dairy industry would certify the milk and cheese that is sold?
> 
> >Or that the growers of tomatoes andd strawberries would certify the level
> >of
> >pesticides in their produce?
> 
> Not exactly, read on...
> 
> >Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 12:28:53 -0600 (CST)
> >From: David Wright <dtwright@texas.net>
> 
> >I, of course, am not trying to speak for Rich, but here's what I thought of
> >when I read his statement.
> 
> >I was a museum director in the '70s when we, collectively, realized that we
> >would have to develop our own standards for the museum profession unless we
> >were willing to have government agencies do it for us. This resulted in a
> >museum certification program that separated what we think of as "real"
> >museums from the roadside "see the two-headed Gila monster" kinds of
> >places.
> 
> >It's the same idea as the AMA setting standards for physicians in
> >conjunction with government, rather than having governments set them
> >arbitrarily. As Rich said, it is "voluntary association and certification,"
> >and says to the world that a certain group is proud to meet standards set
> >by fellow professionals.
> 
> David understands the concept I'm trying to present...almost.
> 
> Through voluntary association, a self-interested group of producers,
> with input from all who belong, would set quality standards for itself.
> The actual certification process would be contracted out to private
> enterprise, non-affiliated, third party businesses specializing in
> guaranteeing quality control and adherence to the standards set by the
> association.  Those standards would be available to the consumer, along
> with a list of members who were curently certified as meeting the
> standards.  With such information at hand, the consumer would be able
> to make choices with regard to their own standards of quality and be
> free to patronize those business that meet their standards.
> 
> I feel such private sector, voluntary regulation would mean higher
> profit for the producer and lower cost to the consumer.  At the very
> least it would keep more money circulating in the private sector and
> less money being thrown down the wasteful government/bureaurocratic
> regulatory rat hole.
> 
> And what of entrepreneurs and other producers who choose NOT to belong
> to such associations that set standards for the group and certify that
> such standards are being met...?  That's were Calvin and his powder
> come in.
> 
> Calvin offered free samples of his product.  Many people tried it,
> liked it, and were willing to pay for more.  Could anyone ask for a
> more classic example of a mutually agreeable contract between willing
> seller and willing buyer?  That's the free market working at its very
> best.  The government should butt out!
> 
> BTW -- To those who posted to me privately with pessimistic opinions
> about human nature and the tendency of people to ignore standards of
> quality and cleanliness and to otherwise exploit their fellow humans
> for the sake of profit: I just don't share in your pessimistic point
> of view...
> 
> 
> Rich McCormack (Poway, CA) macknet@cts.com
> 
> Who is Rich McCormack?  Find out at:
> http://www.free.cts.com/crash/m/macknet/

-- 

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