Price Controls On Books Foolish - Therefore Quebe Likes It

And will not bring the desired results.

If there's any proof of how disconnected the government of Quebec is with the new economy, this stupid measure is proof. It also further cements the antiquated and hopelessly laughable economic ideas the PQ have. Just look at the comments from Quebec in the threads. They're nothing but a bunch of cultural zealots and anti-business,19th century protectionists. They're just not getting it. Quebec is getting blown right out of the water in the modern age. 

The government is just fighting a losing battle here. Yes, drive prices up and restrict choice. That'll learn Wal-Mart.

So fucking stupid.

Let's go over what will happen next. American retailers will find innovative ways (because that's what free enterprise does. It's proactive while government is reactive) to continue to drop prices, and free, smart consumers will flock to them. Then the nationalist deadbeats will squawk, again, at how Americans are ruining us. It's a vicious cycle they can't extricate themselves from.

Again, I don't expect to be hit by this. As usual, it's French-Canadians who will be hit. I do my shopping outside the little walls of anti-competition Quebec. The market as a whole will simply flock to where the prices are lower. At this point, why doesn't Quebec just take over the economy like the good little communists they wish to be and be done with it.

Culture Minister Maka Kotto chimes in with this gem:

“Hopefully, this will allow independent booksellers to regain some terrain in the Quebec book market, and will give them necessary resources to face the transition to digital,” Mr. Kotto said. “We want to allow book stores to face up to increasingly ferocious competition.”

Really? This is not their job. I don't think people fully grasp the absurdity of this vapid - nay, arrogant - statement.

However, Mr. Kotto admitted what the law can do is limited. He could not say how it might stop online retailer Amazon from selling cheap books in Quebec. “There’s not much we can do about the giants,” he said.

Oh, poor little PQ man. They've come to the conclusion there are so many laws you can bludgeon a free society with in the name of "cultural" protection. Thank God I say. Believe you me, if these fuckers could, they would try and find a way to kick Amazon off the internet.

Every time we see a PQ minister on the new, we hold our breaths followed by a rolling of the eyes.

Anyway.

He forgot to open with 'My fellow Comrades the capitalist (American) pigs are destroying the beautiful Quebecois culture."