No realistic libertarian should ever claim that this could have been prevented by libertarian policies. Indeed, the FDA did not prevent it either. The discussion should center around how the free market can minimize these kinds of problems and how a minimal government can encourage a free market environment for prevention and compensation.
Certainly, there are mechanisms in the market that could do this including consumer groups (Consumers Union), certification agencies (Underwriter's Labs), and insurance companies. One concept that I have not heard discussed in libertarian circles is voluntary regulations. Suppose the same FDA regulatory system was put in place but conformance made voluntary. The requirement would be that labeling on the product could not include an FDA certification seal unless the company did conform to all the relevant regulations including inspections, reporting, and so forth. The FDA, then, could be funded by fees paid by the vendors who would, of course, pass the cost on to the consumer. Ed$ --- In [email protected], Eric Miller <1ericmill...@...> wrote: > > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/01/national/w203002D62.DTL > > -- > Eric Miller > http://www.ericmiller.me > > 412-499-3482 > 412-872-9064 (F) >
