Can Government Solve the Paradox of Choice?

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Are the choices provided by a market economy stressful? According to Prof. Mark Pennington, it can definitely be stressful to choose among several different options. In fact, Pennington himself is often overwhelmed by the choices provided to him in a modern supermarket.

This phenomena, called the paradox of choice, has often been used to make arguments in favor of government action on behalf of its citizens. However, these arguments overlook the flaws associated with government action.

For instance, if individual choices are stressful, it must be even more stressful for regulators and bureaucrats to make choices on behalf of millions of people. Moreover, even if it were assumed that bureaucrats and regulators were not stressed out by their decisions, they would lack the relevant knowledge of people's personalities and preferences.

In a world with many choices, we must either shoulder the burden of making our own choices or shoulder the burden of knowing that other people are making decisions for us under a great deal of stress and insufficient knowledge.

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[Mas0o0n]

Jefferson once said: "I would rather suffer the inconveniences of too much freedom, than suffer those of having too little."

[sanitydotorg]

dear daddy, please protect me from responsibility.

[HumbleWillis]

@Ravengaurd6 NICE!

[Ravengaurd6]

@HumbleWillis And that's why I pack heat! :)

[HumbleWillis]

@Ravengaurd6 some people actually believe that their lives would be better if a central power limited their choices to a select few approved options. They think too much freedom is a burden to the individual. Of course these people are morons ... but they honestly believe it.

[Ravengaurd6]

"Oppress to relieve stress"?

what a joke.

[jaykgrey]

Does anyone think the government should make our choices?

[libertariancfo]

Stress is caused by concern for the consequences of the choice being made. Will choosing "A" give me a better result than choosing "B"?  It's much easier to make choices for others, especially people I'm not likely to meet, since I'm unlikely to suffer any consequences, good or bad. In fact, I probably won't even KNOW the consequences. I don't want some bureaucrat making any choices for me, thank you.

[WACHANAxamWACHANA]

Is it fair to say that the libertarian party is a supporter of existentialist ideals? Many of the arguments in these videos have such undertones and I was just curious. Thoughts?

[gnomechomskylives]

@N7a7v7i There will always be a "market" for the state; therefore anarchism is self-defeating.

[N7a7v7i]

@gnomechomskylives ...or simply remove that demonic consumer, the State.

[gnomechomskylives]

@sidspop I know what corporatism is. Capitalism between individuals - what I call "small town" or local capitalism is a beautiful thing. But history shows again and again that the profit motive compels industry and its captains to seek out the number one customer of all: the state. We need to get back to the original function of the corporate charter as it was in the early 19th century; it was temporary and used only for a public service.