?
For the most part, yes. The free market is only 'free' in the ABSENCE of government interference.
In America, about the only vestiges of the free market which remain are mom and pop microbusinesses (managed typically out of the home) and, of course the black/barter markets.
Yep. Free is a euphemism. A bit of spin. It would be humbug if it didn't have such serious repercussions for ecoology and the people at the brunt end of exploitation.
It's a "free" market only for those who have access to money, power, and influence, a tiny minority of people at the very top, 99% of them born there. They might have to operate within some legal constraints, but since the law is not enforced, they get away with all kinds of unethical and criminal behaviour. In the rare instances of getting caught, the fines are no more effective than flea bites.
Water dragons are a small species of spiky lizards that like to live near water holes in Australia. If you watch them competing over food they perfectly demonstrate a free market. The most aggressive ones get the most food and grow bigger. The smaller ones never grow large enough to out compete. The way they operate is without a limbic brain or a neo-cortex. It all comes from the top end of the brain-stem.
Corporations are reptilian in nature.
The only things close to truly "free markets" today exist in barter and the black market.
The free market is illegal. Governments always pile restrictions upon restrictions until the only way an honest man can earn a living is by smuggling.
Thankfully, yes.
Very few would enjoy being in a truly free market.
No, but it does require freedom.