The Free Market Doesn't Guarantee Survival

Many economic conservatives say that the free market will quickly and automatically put everything right if and when we reach the time that we run out of oil, with no special action by anyone. MaxSpeak explains why this reasoning is erroneous at best and dangerous at worst.

I can only say that there is a chance that we can avoid the crisis described if we start moving now – if we start making economic system changes now to create the free-market solutions of the future, that people say will naturally arrive when the free-market desires them. If nothing else, moving on these solutions now will postpone the arrival of the day of reckoning.

But I am certainly not counting on us doing that. Unless something extraordinary happens, it appears this disaster may play itself out just like many other disasters, with people suddenly discovering that the worst conditions are already upon them and their very lives are in great jeopardy. Humans are simply not inclined to grasp the adage that “the person who excels at solving difficulties does so before they arise”.