The name of our joint – is Less Government. Less government is a good idea – always and everywhere.
We usually work the domestic side of the street. But are not at all averse to pointing out that foreign nations would also be accomplishing more – with less government.
And when the US starts looking to import bad, big government from abroad – we absolutely raise the alarm.
Importing Big Government Is Even Dumber than Domestic Big Government
Stupider Than Government Subsidies? Importing Government Subsidies
Importing Government Subsidies: The Worst of Fake ‘Free Trade’
The Donald Trump Administration is on the verge of making this exact mistake on prescription drugs.
Trump Surrenders to the Socialists on Drug Price Controls:
“After spending most of this year rightly condemning governments in Europe and elsewhere for ripping off Americans by imposing below-market price controls on drugs, Trump and (Health and Human Services Secretary Alex) Azar basically surrendered to the price controls and announced we would be adopting them ourselves.”
This idea is even worse than it sounds.
Your Primer on HHS’s International Pricing Index (IPI) Proposal:
“‘In America, we don’t let the government set prices, so why in the world we would let foreign governments set prices for us? At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we wake up every day to fight for free enterprise, which is precisely why we oppose this proposal. Our health care system is the best in the world. Let’s keep it that way.’”
As noted – Trump was right the first time.
Here’s video of Trump…from just two years ago – January 31, 2017:
“We’re going to be ending global freeloading. Foreign price controls reduce the resources of American drug companies to finance drug R & D (Research and Development) innovation.
“(Turns to pharmaceutical executives at the table with him): I think you people know that very well. It’s very unfair to this country.
“Our trade policy will prioritize that foreign countries pay their fair share for US manufactured drugs. So our drug companies have greater financial resources to accelerate the development of new cures.
“And I think it’s so important. But right now it’s very unfair what other countries are doing to us.”
Two Years Ago Trump – was exactly right.
Which begs the question:
What happened? What changed?
Nothing changed about the immutable laws of math – and governments’ assault on math.
Price controls are always awful. They were awful two years ago. They are awful now.
Yet somehow Trump abandoned reality – and has fallen back upon big government nonsense.
Trump should immediately return to this initial inclination.
And then go forth and sin no more.
This first appeared in Red State.