With control of Congress, Republicans could push to lower taxes and repeal the Affordable Care Act, but President Obama has the veto. Instead, a new GOP majority could launch an all-out assault on federal abuses of regulatory powers to defend economic freedom and restore prosperity.
The American economy has always had plenty of government meddling. However, for the first century of the republic, states, cities and towns did most of the regulating, applying common law principles regarding public safety and fairness.
Initially, markets were mostly local, and the democratic process close to the people ensured accountability limited abuses.
After the Civil War, the telegraph and railroads connected the two coasts, and broader continental markets and national enterprises with monopoly power emerged.
The Interstate Commerce Commission was established in 1887 to curb discrimination in railroad freight rates, and the Sherman Act of 1890 asserted federal antitrust authority to ensure fair pricing across the entire economy.
Nowadays, however, it seems the federal government regulates and insidiously monitors virtually everything that citizens and businesses do, even when competition would suffice to compel socially responsible behavior.
Houses are built in small local clusters, yet the federal government regulates toilets, hot water heaters, light bulbs, air conditioners, windows and insulation, even though manufacturers and builders compete for buyers by touting the energy efficiency of their products.
Fuel economy in the auto industry was rising before Obama imposed new, higher mileage standards, because customers were demanding improvement.
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