ABOLISHFTC

Federal Trade Commission

The rules change every four years. The lobbyists don’t.

Official story

What they claim to do

Protects consumers and promotes competition by policing deceptive and anticompetitive practices.

Ground truth

What they actually do

Merger reviews can take months and cost companies millions, and enforcement priorities swing sharply from one administration to the next. Large firms can absorb the cost and the legal fees. Startups often can’t.

The libertarian case

Fraud and breach of contract are already crimes and torts, no commission required. Antitrust enforcement depends on the theory of the moment and who holds office. The surest protection against monopoly is removing the licenses, tariffs and regulations that keep competitors out, not adding a Washington referee.

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