Free Minds, Free Markets

​​ The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a promising idea, but it’s just the beginning. Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk’s current plan has two critical flaws: it is neither efficient nor sustainable. In a free market, people use their dollars to signal which products or services they value most. This is called a price signal. It’s a common misconception that prices are only set by producers—they are also determined by consumers. Market prices reflect what individuals are willing to pay, signaling demand. If a coffee shop offers both a $7 specialty latte and a $2 drip coffee, but customers overwhelmingly buy the drip coffee, it sends a clear signal: people value the drip coffee more. The higher price of the latte factors in the additional resources required to make it, such as milk and specialized machinery. By choosing the drip coffee, customers indicate that these extra resources aren’t worth the higher cost and aren’t needed. This tells the coffee shop to focus its beans, l...

Healthcare in the United States lacks choice. And Americans are paying the price of that with their wallets and their own lives. Why is it that with technology, as time progresses, they get better and/or cheaper. Competition amongst individuals and organizations leads them to create products that are cheaper and more innovative. Why is it that with healthcare, as time progresses, that prices only go up and quality of service is the same or worse. This industry lacks choice. Let's look at another industry, car insurance. According to Geico, “Mechanical breakdown insurance offers coverage for breakdown-related auto repairs when your manufacturer's warranty expires or fails to cover mechanical failures.” This insurance can be bought to cover the expense of an unforeseen mechanical failure. This plan does not cover oil changes, tire replacements, and other regular maintenance. Why doesn't it? Car insurance companies don’t cover oil changes or other routine maintenance because...