Although I don't believe the markets should go unregulated I don't think you can call what we had for the last two decades laissez-faire.

The banks were required by law to give out mortgages to people they new could not qualify and then they dumped them on Fannie and Freddie who were eventually taken over by the government. Profits were kept losses were socialized. That is not laissez-faire; it is not even capitalism.

Heads I win tails I don't lose. Which is axactly where we still are today.