Is Regulation good or bad for the free market?

[Datx]

I am doing a debate about whether or not regulation is good for the industry, the people and the market. I am looking for some good opinions on either side.

More importantly I want websites where I can look for good info.

[Ed Atun]

Go to the Heritage Foundation and CATO Institute websites. Also the New Republic magazine site.

Regulation is not necessary in a completely free market. The market regulates itself. Even criminals are eventually discovered by the working of the market. They will be exposed and bankrupted.

In real life the con artists and criminals are attracted to the money and they cause endless problems to the least able to defend themselves..

[Brian]

I don't know about a website. But I can say that it is not as easy as that. A private company being regulated is a bad thing in my opinion. However, if that private company is being urged to do things that are not in his best interest by the government then it becomes complex. For example if the government gives short term benefits for risky practices and then doesn't oversee the abuse of those practices, then who is to blame. I could argue either side. But in my opinion, government should not be in the business of running private businesses. They should be in the business of running the country. Social Security and the IRS should be all we need to see for why politicians have no business handling someone elses money.