Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.

but the article also mentions

"Critics say the government's decision earlier this year to introduce a new and expensive system of state excise stamps led to the market being flooded with potentially lethal vodka substitutes.

Genuine, certified vodka is now beyond the means of many of Russia's legions of poor. "

So it was the government that started the whole mess to begin with.

I don't think most people can make that connection, Isaiah. They think that government can protect them. You know, if the police just had more power to enforce the law. It's ridiculous.

Of course, quality control can easily be privatized: Good Housekeeping, Underwriters Labs, Better Business Bureau, TripAdvisor, Zagat, etc.

How likely are these people going to buy the vodka that almost killed them?

The person (or company) that sold the bad vodka will never earn another dime unless they convince the vodka drinking public that they will never poison them again.

I really want to play devil's advocate with you guys, but I don't know how long I'd be able to keep it up.

Okay, let's give it a try. Um, Kip, aren't those corporations you are talking about? How could you expect me to trust a corporation to protect me from a corporation? Don't give me any lawyer mumbo-jumbo, they simply aren't scrupulous. They care about making a buck more than they care about protecting me.

And Smillerz, that's great for the people who survived. But if Russia had a strong central government (like the good old days) this wouldn't have happened in the first place. Besides, the company can just change names/labels and nobody would be the wiser.

Wulf - I know you're playing Devil's advocate, but UL and GH wouldn't make money if they didn't certify reliable, quality products. To posit otherwise is to suggest that people will buy & pay for anything, no matter what the price, and that there is no market whatsoever for information.

Using internally funded research, JD Power & Associates, and other market research firms have pretty much exploded that notion.

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