> The government, laws and constitution exists for a reason. Laws may > not be perfect but if we set the principles right, then courts may
> decide and laws can evolve.

Left-wing political philosophy.

> What disturbed me when reading your article is this (stated baldly): > You accept/describe a society where companies are trying to screw
> the customers and the customers are trying to screw the companies.
> You then try to find a solution to a problem that exists in that
> environment.

Description of right-wing (or libertarian) political philosophy.

> I think this is a more fundamental problem. I want/assume a society > where *normally* companies are trying to make money honestly and
> customers accept that they need to pay for a service fairly (I do
> believe supply and demand rather than cost should set the price but > charging someone more 'just because he can afford it' is not an
> honest practice as I see it. Also, I believe that monopolies and
> cartels should be regulated). Everyone is both a producer and a
> consumer, everyone contributes. No one should start the day thinking > 'how can I screw those fellow citizens more today?'. Of course there > will be ill minded or greedy individuals (as exceptions) and laws
> will be there to regulate and provide a fair ground for fair
> competition.

Left-wing political philosophy.

I don't want to start a political debate, just point out that the
different points of view reflect different basic political
philosophies. From reading other stuff by Brad it is obvious that
he is a libertarian (whether he calls himself that or not), like
many other net gurus.

My descriptions reflect views on how one thinks society should BE.
As to how society IS: I think it is obvious that many companies
try to screw customers for what it's worth. Sadly, many consumers
buy the cheapest product, without regard to whether it was produced
by child labour, comes from a company which doesn't allow unions etc.
In part, this is a reaction to a general fear of poverty, which
wouldn't exist if the government did more to protect basic
consumer rights.