Deregulation is just another attempt for major corporations to operate criminally, and irresponsibly. The economic crash of 2008 was due to deregulation and lack of enforcement. Conservatives never learn a thing from history!

Myke: "Thus pure capitalism is corrupt. Thus libertarianism and conservatism are corrupt."
All ideology is damaging if it is seen as something to follow or construct instead of as one narrow, generalized view. The very concept is flawed if taken far. .

Big government isn't bad or good and neither is small government. The important thing is to discuss issue by issue and aim for a good balance. The trouble starts when people feel personally over-invested in an outcome. It is easy to convince a self-confessed libertarian that a government is too big, but debating what to cut is far more useful and constructive. What's important is attention to detail, lack of commitment to an ideological goal and a willingness to compromise. That is far more difficult if one is already committed to more than a manifesto, if one is committed to an outcome by declaring oneself for smaller government. (I have never heard anyone say they want a larger one).

As for regulation, take the financial crisis of 2008. It wasn't "greedy bankers" or corporations that were the problem, as Mr Greenspan admits, it was poor regulation. He was head of the Fed Res until 2006 and it was during his period that these financial "bundles" of debt and investment "instruments" were invented. People were making money, western economies were growing and Mr Greenspan had the integrity to admit much of the fault for failing to see where that would lead. It wasn't an ideological question (although it can be seen that way); not greedy bankers (although there were some, then as now and in all periods), nor was it the fault of Corporations (though there is such a thing as too big to fail and their lobbying groups often behave reprehensibly. Nearly as bad as the Gun Lobby, AIPAC or many others perhaps). The Crisis stemmed primarily from 'repackaging' debt (esp sub-prime and mortgage debt) until nobody but the direct owner was quite sure who ultimately owned it.

None of what I write ignores the fact that Corporations are trying to get ISDS through. People (I think) are wrong to oppose TTIP and CETA the details of which often facilitate trade, cut business costs and so benefit everybody. It is specifically ISDS that is the real issue and if Corps cannot get it through a trade deal like those between economic blocks they'll be looking to get it some other way. The way Corps are taxed is also a problem. They are better equipped and positioned to pay less tax (often by use of tax havens) than are medium and smaller businesses. This makes them very powerful. The answer doesn't lie in adherence to a "coherent" ideology. It lies in voters caring what's true and what isn't and who to trust.

I love being an American but a lot of us want to just mind our own business while the rest of the world burns when in fact, we live in a place that was built on the backs of people of many nationalities. Americans today fail to realize that countries are homes in a neighborhood called the world and we simply cannot ignore our neighbors. People say "hey man why are we all in their business! Screw the president!" Look, our economy is affected directly by the global economy. To maintain ours we MUST help other countries. Don't get me wrong I've studied economics for a while but you don't have to in order to see my point. This is common sense. (By the way.. most products and food especially food lol, that we enjoy is not from the homeland. They are in the comforts of our homes because of global trade!)