Protection from Whom?
Ill, George C. Roche
Protection from Whom? George C. Rocbe III The Federal Trade Commission dates back to the Progressive Era, when Americans first began to accept the idea that government could do a better job of...
...The FTC might take a look at the noncompetitive situation prevailing among the tobacco producers, an industry subsidized by government and regulated by government so as to preclude all competition...
...Think of those poor Icelandic consumers, with cigarettes forced on them from the cradle to the grave...
...For the past year, the FTC has been receiving transfusions of bureaucratic authority...
...Incidentally, this works out to be $7 worth for every man, woman and child in Iceland...
...Since then, the American consumer has presumably been "protected" by government...
...George C. Rocbe III The Federal Trade Commission dates back to the Progressive Era, when Americans first began to accept the idea that government could do a better job of looking after the citizen's interests than the citizen could do for himself...
...Be ostracized with Ban...
...Roche is on the staff of the Foundation for Economic Education, Inc...
...We should have known better...
...We have heard a lot about "protecting" the consumer from smoking...
...First in the hands of Caspar Weinberger, a California attorney, and more recently under the direction of his successor, Philadelphia anti-trust lawyer Miles W.Kirkpatrick, the Federal Trade Commission is branching out in all directions-bringing suits against various firms, and promising such new departures as compelling some firms to advertise in opposition to their own previous advertising claims...
...He opines that "the commission is waking up to its responsibilities," and goes on to say, "If they keep up the accelerated pace, the FTC may become a prime recruiting ground for idealistic young lawyers who want to use the authority of a democratic government to protect consumers...
...Many had hoped that a new administration in Washington, an administration presumably "concerned" about the growth of government power, would reverse the trend and turn back a larger proporation of the citizen's life to his own control...
...FTC, where are you...
...now we even protect him from commercials about smoking...
...Of course...
...The Nixon administration has pursued a policy which is further strengthening the hand of the regulatory bureaucracy...
...The FTC might also note that the government not only supports this cartel, but it also has granted Iceland a $1,374,000 loan, enabling that country to buy American cigarettes for her citizens...
...Whenpoorer cars are built, Buick will build them...
...Think of those poor American consumers, who pay twice, once to subsidize the tobacco industry and once to subsidize the smokers in Iceland-and then the government doesn't want us to smoke...
...In recent years, many of us have begun to suspect that we need to be protected from government...
...Of course, the FTC insists that it must have greatly expanded powers and funds to do the job properly...
...Think of the new sloganizing possibilities for Madison Avenue: "Double your cavities with Crest...
...While the FTC is waiting for its enlarged powers, I have a suggested culprit whom they might investigate...
...Ralph Nader is delighted with these developments at FTC...
Vol. 4 • April 1971 • No. 5
