Mister, please read http://mises.org/books/fed.pdf Murray Rothbard's THe case against the Fed and then come back and try to make a reasonable argument on this forum. You're embarassing yourself by saying that free markets do not work. The United States has not had free markets since 1913 when the Federal Reserve was created. THe Federal reserve has the power to turn us into dirt-poor overnight with the push of a button. This is not free markets - this is managed markets by the government. THe reason we are in this mess right now is due to easy credit by the Federal Reserve - they lowered the interest rate to unreasonably low levels and this triggered the home-buying mania that then jacked up prices due to high demand and easy money. This is the main reason for the housing bubble. All I am saying here has nothing to do with stupid ideology - it has all to do with simple common sense and understanding of how the current economy works. Do you know what would happen if we had free markets? AIG, Citi, Wachovia, and the other rascals would be out of business immediately. THere would be no government bailouts, nada, nilch! Income taxes would be really low (like 2-3%), there would be no Federal REserve and money would be backed by a commodity. THere would be no fractional reserve banking which would prevent bubbles, speculations and boom and bust cycles. You probably have no idea what causes boom and bust cycles. YOu probably have no idea what inflation is. You probably have no idea that money to trade is like scales to ice cream stand. YOu probably have no idea that inflation is hidden tax on savers - the very same people who generate capital in order to invest in projects and grow economies. You probably have no idea what is the difference between capital and credit. You probably have no idea about how many things are wrong with the US and world economies. You should read up on this stuff to help you understand. And please do not tell us that the government can spend my money more efficiently than I would spend my money - this is just utter nonsense.

There you have it folks: your government acting as the racketeer that they are (again?? lol). And what does the government provide, again, that will entitle them to their "fair share"? The webcams? The business model? The internet connectivity? The "office building"? The wires the stream goes through? The security (pathetic arrogant police)? WHAT EXACTLY? Swedes are taxed to death already in order to get some pathetic healthcare and free education. Now, don't tell me their healthcare is good, please! But this is the result of a mindless brain-dead swedish public who cannot fend for themselves and need the nanny-state to lead them on every step. How pathetic is that! However, this piece of news just proves how the state has been allowed to stick its arrogant snively nose everywhere, even people's pants. Swedish government, you are disgusting! BACK OFF!

You can make what? - $100K? working as IT? and you could make something like $10 million trafficking drugs. The money benefit here is obvious. But i'd be fearful for my head. And that wouldn't be the authorities I'd be afraid of. I'd be afraid of the other criminals I had to deal with - one thing movies get right is that the cops always show up after the shootout.

Why should the "US government" do this? Do we not have private enterprise in this country?

Eeeh. that would be the USA. we don't count little crappy islands as countries. we're big and strong and we can crush you like a roach! lol, just kidding man ;)