But regulation has improved conditions of factory workers in the UK, not to mention providing women and the unpropertied with the vote, protecting children and (to a limited extent) animals and a host of other measures which help to prevent exploitation and cruelty. I don't really feel that would have happened without some meddling on the part of government because, sadly, I don't think there is any point in the forseeable future where the majority of people can be persuaded to care a great deal about a wider group of humans than those they meet on a day-to-day basis.
Re: the ability of people to lift themselves out of poverty but that's a different question.
Date: 2010-12-07 06:22 pm (UTC)