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There's always cause for concern if bad policies are pursued.

Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.

Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.

Of course there are always exceptions, but opinions are not to be feared.

With respect to the first of these obstacles, it has often been made a matter of grave complaint against Political Economists, that they confine their attention to Wealth, and disregard all consideration of Happiness or Virtue.

Though many corporations honor commitments to reduce dangerous pollution, some cut corners and cheat. The marketplace doesn't always have mechanisms to correct bad actors.

People end up fleeing countries who adopt economic policies based on these flawed principles. And more often than not, they come here.

Without economic development, any potential for political openness and freedom will be questionable.

In Germany it is good if as many people as possible join initiatives and peaceful demonstrations against the rule of the financial markets. Worshipping the unfettered freedom of global markets has brought the world to the brink of ruin. We now need social and ecological rules for the market economy.