[Casloy]

Why does this simple concept escape so many people - most especialy why does it escape those here at FR?????

That's a really good question. How can you call yourself a conservative and not believe in a free market in which an employer and an employee negotiate a contract for salary and benefits without the government or anyone else sticking their nose in it? To me, this is so at the core of conservatism that I don't understand how you can believe otherwise and be anything other than a liberal.

[A. Pole]

How can you call yourself a conservative and not believe in a free market in which an employer and an employee negotiate a contract for salary and benefits without the government or anyone else sticking their nose in it?

"Believe"? Is the free market ideology a religion? You bet it is, a false one. The "free market" society never existed and never will.

Why? Because the market is an aspect of the economy and economy is an aspect of social life. Market is a product and a tool created by the society. If deregulated it becomes a destroyer.

To me, this is so at the core of conservatism that I don't understand how you can believe otherwise and be anything other than a liberal.

Freemarket or laissez fair ideology is ANTI-conservative. It is not coincidence that it is being called liberalism outside of USA.

[Gabz]

How can you call yourself a conservative and not believe in a free market in which an employer and an employee negotiate a contract for salary and benefits without the government or anyone else sticking their nose in it? To me, this is so at the core of conservatism that I don't understand how you can believe otherwise and be anything other than a liberal.

Exactly my point.