Comments on: Realcomp Challenges FTC “Right” to Dictate Website Content http://archive.mises.org/11130/realcomp-challenges-ftc-right-to-dictate-website-content/ Proceeding Ever More Boldly Against Evil Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:26:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: mark Jacob http://archive.mises.org/11130/realcomp-challenges-ftc-right-to-dictate-website-content/comment-page-1/#comment-633014 mark Jacob Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:13:20 +0000 http://blog.mises.org/archives/011130.asp#comment-633014 NAR backs MLS’s against the FTC and DOJ because NAR is against free choice for consumers. The MLS’s around the country are a method of control for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR does not care about the common Realtor. NAR only cares about the fees they collect from these Realtors. If you look at the most recent financial reports from NAR, you should note that nowhere does it show how many employees NAR has or the salaries of NAR employees. NAR collects over a billion dollars each year. This money pours into the coffers of politicians. If you understand one thing, understand that NAR is the enemy of private homebuyers and sellers everywhere and the MLS’s, State Departments of Real Estate and local Association of Realtors all are part of NAR and part of the system that wishes to control the minds and money of the consumer. The FTC and DOJ should be supported against their battle against these bastions of corruption.

]]> By: Steve Murray http://archive.mises.org/11130/realcomp-challenges-ftc-right-to-dictate-website-content/comment-page-1/#comment-632906 Steve Murray Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:21:31 +0000 http://blog.mises.org/archives/011130.asp#comment-632906 The issue before McGuire adn the FTC was fairly narrow. Can an MLS discriminate against one class of members (their own) in favor of another class of members (also their own). It is not allowed in many areas of contract laws -(franchiser/franchisee is one example.

Can an MLS say that only one form of listing is approrpriate when its own trade association says otherwise? Exclusive right to sell versus Exclusive Agency

But most importantly, is the imposition of additional costs on one class of members solely to protect the interests of another class something we want to see in commerce? Regardless of how much that cost is? McGuire ruled that it wasn’t substantial in his findings, that it did not inhibit trade. I wonder how he would like his current employer to have to pay extra to access necessary services for his organization just to inhibit his ability to compete.

I have no idea whether the FTC has jurisdiction and leave that to others. What I do believe is in fair compeittion something that I would have thought the Realtor(r) organization would also desire

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