I am a free market capitalist.  I want less government.  I want less taxes and regulations.

I want free people to be free to do as they wish.  Broadly, I’d like economic freedom – predicated upon Thomas Jefferson’s description of religious freedom:

“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

Again, broadly: If my neighbor’s economic activities neither pick my pocket nor break my leg?  They can have at it – and the very best of luck to them.

Perhaps most importantly: I want equal protection before the law.  I want both my corner store and Amazon to face the same laws, regulations and taxes.

Here is where the problems begin to arise.

The United States is not a free market capitalist economy.  It has not been for many, many decades.

Even worse, we still operate under the delusion that it is.  Every economic debate DC has – is had through this warped, false prism. (more…)