I recently read in the Item that the Lynn mayor and fire chief want more money for the Fire Department. Why doesn’t the mayor inform the brass that they must live within their budget? Instead of spending every dime, why don’t they put some money aside for maintenance and equipment like any normal person or organization would do? The answer is that they all personally benefit from spending more taxpayer money. The main problem with government-enforced monopolies is that there is no incentive to control costs or innovate because they are protected from all competition.

Fortunately, there is a better and more responsible alternative: Privatize all protection services. Those services can best be provided by business men and women because every business needs to satisfy their customers in order to survive. Government agencies only need to satisfy politicians whose main interest is getting elected and reelected.

Free enterprise is the only moral way to control the costs of goods and services. In a free market, everyone is free to provide goods and services to willing buyers and everyone is free to decide for themselves which goods and services they want and how much they are willing to pay.

That freedom pushes prices down.

The moral foundation of a free market is that all human relations are voluntary and peaceful. In a free and moral society, no one can be legally forced to buy or sell anything. The law respects every honest, peaceful human being. Of course, every self-serving politician hates freedom because they gain and maintain their power by spending money that has been taken from taxpayers and by enacting laws that criminalize honest trade and peaceful behavior.

Power-crazed politicians hate the free market because, in a free market, people are free to buy and sell basic goods and services without getting government permission. People are free to earn an honest living without being forced to pay any private or government mafia.

And, people are free to produce and possess basic goods without any government licenses, permits, or fees.

In a free market, providers of goods and services, unlike politicians, work hard to keep their prices down because they must satisfy their customers in order to stay in business. The consumers are the kings and queens, not the politicians and the special interests whom they serve.

The individual right to choose takes power from the rulers and returns it back to the people where it belongs.

Richard G. Eramian

Lynn

email: [email protected]