Ben,

I think you realize this FDA example is just an illustration of my point. There are structural reasons why interventions have negative consequences. The above post actually began as an explanation of these structural problems, but I thought it got too confusing so I opted for an explanation by example instead.

Nevertheless, I don't think you've been fair even to my illustration. Perhaps my prediction that the loss of profits will hurt the industry is flawed on some accounts, but are you saying that everything in the FDA example (starting with European socialization) that has led to the situation we are in does not constitute some corroboration that interventions have negative consequences?