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No, he said those words. It struck me as obscene. I agree that government has a regulatory/enforcement roll, but only becuase we as a society deem it so. It's "by the consent of the governed" isn't it? Didn't the principles of capitalism and free markets exist before government?

No, he said those words. It struck me as obscene. I agree that government has a regulatory/enforcement roll, but only becuase we as a society deem it so. It's "by the consent of the governed" isn't it? Didn't the principles of capitalism and free markets exist before government? The question of the origin of the power vested in the government is outside the issue. Once the government is in place, it has an obligation to create and pass laws. If someone, as Will appears to do, suggests that these laws ought to strengthen capitalism, he appears to agree with r than diverge from your views. This is a conservative statement.

I also suggested, more tactdully at first, that you are not being fair: you are holding someone reposnsible for every word said in a heated discussion. G. Will has decades-long record of writing. If you want to judge him, use that as your basis.

"? Didn't the principles of capitalism and free markets exist before government?"

You are joking right? I don't know when the concept of Capitalism and free markets began, Possibly with Locke? But Government has always been the principal obstacle to actual free trade and Capitalism. They still are, even our government. But yes you are right in the since that they did exist before the US government. Remember that government is essentially a gang that the rest of us pay protection money to. In this since government has existed as long as there have been people.