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Politically, is FTC regulation of false advertising an illegitimate use of State coercion?

As most people here probably know, the Federal Trade Commission regulates certain kinds of advertising in the United States, and is charged with enforcing rules against deceptive statements in advertising, as well as some other abusive kinds of advertising. For example, there is an FTC rule against "bait" advertising -- as in "bait and switch" - advertising that a company uses to lure customers into a store or a web site in search of some item that the advertiser doesn't really plan to sell. In "bait" advertising, a company only uses the promise of having a particular item as "bait" to attract people who then will be presented with a pitch for other stuff -- for example, other consumer goods offered at much higher prices. From a "free market," "laissez-faire" standpoint, do you think that it's wrong for the FTC to impose rules on the advertising business in this way? Or is it okay? If you're a pure libertarian believer in free-market forces, for example, should the Federal Government just butt out of the advertising world completely, and allow advertisers to say whatever they want? Or not?

Public Comments

1. No, it is not illegitimate. Regulations are important. If not, then why is not prostitution just a free for all business....Oh, that is a moral issue....Right, MORAL issue in BAIT AND SWITCH....See the correlation...wow..
2. Well, they can't allow companies to mislead the public. "Cigarettes aren't addictive!" "Theres no fat in a fried twinkie!" It's those type of ads we need to fight against.
3. From a Libertarian perspective, the purpose of government is to protect individuals from force or fraud, allowing a free market to flourish. Therefore, the law should be used to prosecute individuals who engage in this type of deception. Which level of government should do the prosecuting, however, is another question. As there is no authority for the federal government to regulate advertising in the US Constitution, the authority rests with the individual states.
4. very few things in the last 150 years, has been done by the federal government that is both legal and legitimate. I would say NOTHING in the ten years has been legitimate or legal i would say most things done in the federal government since Kennedy has been done in righteousness. and propably Half all things done since 1913 has been wicked. We may have won the revolutionary war, but we did not win the civil war. if it were not for God, this country would not have existed. but it is because that men reject God, that this nation almost will not exist. a few people still believe in the constitution, in america. i guarantee you, NONE of the adminstration actually believes in it today. By their DEEDS you will Know the federal trade commission is a good example of how corrupt the Federal government is. the homeland security acts and the patriot acts are VILE abominations against american citizens. HealthCare is another DEED that proves how corrupt the Obama administration is. the FDA is just as corrupt also the military industrial complex, isnt concerned with american freedom or constitutional rights, they are only concerned with Power and MONEY. Profits. good government is "small" government. freedom is NO taxes. taxation is bondage and debt without approval of voters. which means NOT freedom forcing insurance is a mandatory tax and oppression of the poor, and also of the middle class. the bible says that oppression of wages is a sin. of course the poor are just as guilty, people who steal welfare checks from the working class are nothing less then thieves, the allegations of 30% fraud in the welfare system goes both to illegal immigranst as to the government workers themselves. This is not capitalism but socialism. for many government workers, it can take as many as 300 or 400 minimum wages earners to pay their salary. Thanks to Unions, this too is also Theft. in some unions if not all, this is theft by DESIGN. nope, nothing in american politics is pure from corruption.