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The Hidden Market

Consider the following quote about the hidden hand of the market and from a BUSINESS standpoint state wether you agree or disagree keeping in mind that this Board is not for debating morales or causes for activism.

"The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist. McDonald's cannot flourish without McDonnell Douglas, the designer of the U.S. Air Force F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley's technologies to flourish is called the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps."
-- Thomas Friedman (informationclearinghouse.com)

Market Hidden The

While taking my economics classes I learned the principle of the hidden hand. The idea of the hidden fist that protects the freedom that allows our free market is true to an extent. However, the example of McDonalds is not a good example of this. Many things that flourish world wide do not require the protection of the US military. McDonalds has an international branch that allows it to open stores anywhere in the world. McDonalds flourishes in communist china and communist N. Korea. McDonalds will flourish anywhere because it has something that people want. Its simple supply and demand. If the US military didn't back it up it would still flourish. That is held evidence by the fact that Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese companies and products flourish through out the world. Neither of these countries has a habit of marching around to keep the world safe.