I strongly disagree. The govt. has no business telling companies what they can make, or legislating performance characteristics for any product.
On that we disagree. The Canadian governement heavily regulates the Banking industry for example. In the last few years they were unsuccessfully lobbied by interest groups who wanted to create all sorts of shady 'investment' vehicles and do all sorts of 'mergers'. As a result of this latest crisis, we have had to bail out our banks to the tune of $0.
Sometimes business needs regulations, or bad things happen. The government it there to protect the citizens. Companies are free to make whatever they want, but there is no 'right to make profit' in the Constitution of either of our countries. But there is a right to 'safety and security'.
What's next? Regulating restaurants? Sorry, you can't serve XXX because it has too many calories. Nevermind that some people are responsible enough to only eat a high calorie food every once in a while. We can't rely on personal responsibility - let the govermment act as our parent.
If needed, why not? Some people don't have the self control that others do. They text while driving, drive drunk, ride on the outside of a moving vehicle, eat fatty foods and get no exercise. Sometimes they need a push in a certain direction.
I don't know why some people need to be legislated to stop doing what is bad for them; but they do.
Too many people want the government to be a nanny - they want to abdicate freedom so they don't have to be responsible for themselves. Anyone who lives close to work, and can afford the gas for a big RWD car should be able to buy one, not be forced to buy a wrong-wheel drive death trap because our Imperial Federal Government has dictated that one's vehicle must get x miles per gallon. What if I don't drive as much? (sorry, I'm repeating previous posts.) Again, I should be able to make the decision for myself based on my needs and circumstances.
I quite agree, I am all about personal responsibility. But I can also understand why certain things are required of vehicles. Seat belts, for example. I'd love to rebuild a Leopard tank, and drive it to work, but the damage to the roads that my taxes pay for would be astronomical. I can understand a regulation that prevents me and everyone else from doing that. If I didn't like it, I am free to buy property and build my own road to do as I please.
I can also understand minimum fuel economy standards, when that fuel is itself a danger to the safety and well being of citizens. It's a little pain now, or a lot of pain later.
Mindless government regulation is a poor substitute for a free market with personal responsibility. Look how well it worked in the Soviet Union.
Welcome to Amerika.
I thought we agree, people lack personal responsibility? And what does that have to do with a dictatorship?