“Common sense would dictate that increased federal regulations help preserve the interests of established business by raising the market entry price of newer competitors.”

That and the fact that many regulations serve only to allow the government to participate in monoplolies for their corporate buddies...that result in Swiss bank accounts for politicians? Anyone who believes we actually have free enterprise or free trade hasn't been paying attention.

I may sound like I'm shilling for J Carlton, but he is exactly right on this. It's amazing that our economy has survived as well as it has with all this government "help". Free enterprize and free trade works wonders, we should try it somtime.

of couse this is true except it mostly ain't the Feds who do it. States license Doctors, Dentists, CPA's, Barbers etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The Feds on the other hand bend over backwards to free up the market. For example they administer a course of study and a test that anyone can take and master and gain the same righs and priviledges of a Lawyer or CPA in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. There are many other examples of where the Feds try to assist the lockd out or disenfranchised. The Small Business Adminsitration, VA etcetera are examples. Don't forget the Bureau of Indian Affairs which helps Native Americans overcome the stifling nature of some state governments.

Federal regulations almost invariably secure monopolies for the big guys while making the new guys pay through the nose to get in the game.

Cut out all government subsidies and grants for private businesses and get them out of the business of picking winners and losers to the detriment of their competition and at the expense of the taxpayers - and the competition!