To what extent should govt meddle in the free market?

Simplest way to put it is any way it deems necessary to promote the common good and undermine the malicious and predatory aspect of capitalism. I'm not in any way -- despite having briefly been a libertarian in my youth -- a person who believe in 'free markets' or their benefit for mankind. I think it's a ridiculous fantasy and a malicious one espoused mostly by the very rich for their own benefit. The state will always exist, should always exist and should always be regulating, 'meddling' and intervening in the economic life of the citizens it's responsible for. The only question for me is how it intervenes not whether it should. It will, it does, it's going to.

I'm a fanatical proponent of the state brutally enforcing pro-labour policies, protective tariffs, environmental regulations and a whole host of other interventions that make life better for people. The state should also be totally in charge of its currency and banking system which is probably the most important thing any state can do. The power to create currency from nothing is a power denied even to the Gods and the second you leave it to vultures and predators your society is hobbled.