Transition

Most people may still be functioning under the illusion that the Free Market exists. Many places on earth the "Free Market" is no more. And the problem is the free market will tend to disappear even quicker now around the world precisely because of some of the Stupid mistakes that will be blamed primarily on the U.S. and Europe. So it could be said that the Subprime mortgage debacle, the Lehman Debacle, the Bear Stearns debacle, the AIG Debacle and all the rest have sort of also taken away any hope for a return to a global Free Market in all the other nations of the world.

So, just like the war was between Communism and Democracy from 1945 until around 1990 on earth. That has passed now. Communism (at least in the form it was practiced) is dead and gone. Now the war is between various kinds of Capitalism. The champions of "Free Market" capitalism are definitely the United States and Europe and several others. The champions of "State controlled Capitalism" are China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela and several others.

Unfortunately, there is a large movement towards state controlled capitalism worldwide caused in part by the recession that won't seem to end (even though it is said it ended in June 2009). This will only make things worse in all "Free market" economies because State controlled capitalism is about keeping whoever is in power in those nations not giving any real opportunity to the people (not really).

So, this acts as a damper upon the U.S., Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and many other "Free Market" countries.

An example of this is the price of oil. Right now, State controlled Capitalism controls 75% of the oil reserves in the world mostly in the middle east in Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and others in the region and this causes oil that should cost about 25 dollars a barrel to be, for example 77 dollars a barrel as I write this. If the actual unmanipulated costs per barrel was being charged right now the free market economies and most others might be able to pull out of the hole they are in but can't as long as this and other problems exist. Companies like Exxon and other multinationals control less than 10% of the world's oil reserves. If this wasn't bad enough, there is only enough oil in the ground at present to last another 40 to 60 years at most. And I also found out today we are also running out of helium that is necessary for many technologies we use. In 10 or 20 years a helium balloon for a child could cost 1000 dollars because of the scarcity of helium, for example.

Also, because of State controlled Capitalism within China the world's multinationals are often shut down through anti trust actions against them by the Chinese government. However, Chinese companies owned by members of the Chinese Communist party are exempt from these laws.

And now, with all the troubles caused by Free Market problems state controlled capitalism is only going to be made worse for all the free market economies and could make recessions like the one we appear to still be in almost permanent.

So, obviously free market economies have to do something to protect themselves different than they are doing now. Ideas anyone?