"Bush campaign ads using team"

[Chaerophon]

I'm sure the Canadiens are quite thrilled about it; unfortunately, that does not answer the question of whether Canada's economy has in fact performed well, especially in comparison to it's more market-oriented peers. Perhaps every bit of economic data I've ever read is wrong, but Canada's economy is positively anemic compared to say, the US, Japan, South Korea, et al.

Link: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_..._41/ai_53449475

Actually, we're quite comparable given our overall reliance on resource exports.

It is obvious that in order for capitalism (or should I say, market-oriented capitalism) to function properly, the market must be as free from manipulation by any group (be it the government, monopolies, and even unions) as possible; it's part and parcel of the meaning of the word.

Well, first of all, I would like to hear your definition of the 'purpose' of capitalism and its primary 'function'. The only way in which your little thesis actually works is if you consider its "function" to be the concentration of capital. If "functioning properly" actually refers to production numbers and general social welfare, one may, through statistics alone, paint an entirely different picture. Things only become more complicated and less 'black or white' when one considers the protection of socio-cultural/socio-economic preferences and norms as factors of human importance. It's a hell of a lot more complicated than the tired old mythological economic formulation. In fact, the same link, and a million others like it, should tear that little piece of mythology to pieces.

EDIT: Here's an abstract from another, quite groundbreaking article on the subject. Unfortunately, one needs a subscription to view the whole thing online, but rest assured, the article itself is pure data analysis, plain and simple. http://www.ingenta.com/isis/searching/Expa...0000003&index=2