But I'm up for an economic discussion, if we can drag it back to that.

Actually, you guys might like a book available on mises.org -- Defending the Undefendable. (Ignore the price--if you click on the PDF, it's free.) Basically an argument for how the Great Scourges (at least, the ones that don't involve theft and violence) of our day are really the result of market distortions rather than inherent sin. Good stuff. I've only read about 8 essays, but they've all been fun.