<Open ThreadThe Oil DrumGassing on some more>

30 comments on Government and Big Oil sitting in a tree

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odograph on November 17, 2005 - 10:56am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
It's a basic issue of democracy, and of course free market democracy, isn't it?

Democracy and markets both work best with informed players, and both are subverted when the powerful control information.

What I see as absurd (not here, but generally) is that people with a big belief in markets (current oil prices are purely supply/demand) get turned around, and defend what are clearly non-market and non-democratic events.

To me, it makes a great deal of sense for a market democracy to investigate things in open congressional hearings.  Not only does the goevernment learn, but each of us citizens learn right along with them.

(and of course if Iraq was discussed in early 2001, it takes this concern for democracy to a whole other level!)

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odograph on November 17, 2005 - 10:58am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
P.S. - special concessions are made in US history for such meetings in wartime, but note that these were (AFAIK) peacetime meetings between a few industry and government powerplayers.  This strikes me as different than the proverbial round of golf, or hunting party.
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