Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ficc!walker
From: walker@ficc.uu.net (Walker Mangum)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Dram Prices...
Summary: Dumping doesn't reduce prices for consumers
Message-ID: <2759@ficc.uu.net>
Date: 16 Jan 89 22:04:10 GMT
References: <18814@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <6175@ecsvax.uncecs.edu> <2738@ficc.uu.net>
Organization: Adytum, Inc.
Lines: 35

In article <2738@ficc.uu.net>, jeffd@ficc.uu.net (jeff daiell) writes:
>     result of market forces.  Besides, even if it were, why gripe?
>     Doesn't dumping reduce prices for consumers?

Only temporarily!  Remember, if it really is "dumping", the purpose is
to remove competition from the marketplace.  If the dumping is then
successful and competition is removed, the prevailing supplier then
rules marketplace.  The consumer has no choice of supplier.  As a
consumer, I would much prefer freedom of choice.  The problem here is
that there are enough short-sighted consumers that don't realize that
*they* are the real victims of dumping, so they go for the bait.  And
bait it is!

However, I wholeheartedly agree with (what I presume would be) your
position as a libertarian, that no one should be able to PREVENT me
from selling ANYTHING at a loss.  Although I agree with many of our
laws that are based upon what's "good of the public" (for instance, the
courts generally don't uphold "non-competition" agreements), I place
more value on my individual right to lose my ass, if I choose.

Granted, few "dumpers" lose their asses dumping products, since they
usually have other means of obtaining profits.  While, in the end, the
public probably (IMHO) is really the victim of dumping, I believe that
the public would suffer *even more* from outside interference with the
free marketplace.  CAVEAT EMPTOR!  Economics be complex stuff.

By the way, speaking of public protection, I sure am glad that the
government decided to save us all from red dye #2.  The number of
casualties due to those pernicious red M&M's must have really been
something compared to the number due to use of tobacco!
-- 
Walker Mangum                                  |  Adytum, Incorporated
phone: (713) 333-1509                          |  1100 NASA Road One  
UUCP:  uunet!ficc!walker  (walker@ficc.uu.net) |  Houston, TX  77058
Disclaimer: $#!+ HAPPENS