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tive marketplace keep everything sharp and efficient. Take away the competition, substitute bureaucrats for private ownership, and the mess starts.

Per Petersen-KFF Health System Tracker, in 1970, U.S. health expenditures as a percentage of GDP stood at 6.9%. By 2024, it was up to 18%.

Also, per Petersen-KFF, in 1970, out-of-pocket expenditures on health care amounted to 32.7 % of total health care spending and public health insurance amounted to 22%.

By 2025, the out-ofpocket expenditures dropped to 10.5% of the total and public insurance increased to 42.6%.

More government means more waste, more inefficiency and more fraud, hence higher costs.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports $186 billion in improper payments made by the federal government in 2025, up $24 billion from the year prior. Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) account for $104 billion of the $186 billion.

But again, let’s recall that affordability is not just what things cost, but our capability for paying.

More government — more socialism per Bernie Sanders’ dream — means less economic growth and lower incomes, hence diminished capability for each household to make purchases.

The Fraser Institute publishes an annual Economic Freedom of the World report, measuring economic freedom in 165 countries worldwide. Countries that are the most economically free are those with the least government interference in the economy.

Per Fraser, the top 25% of countries in economic freedom have average per capita income 6.2 times higher than the bottom 25%.

The rate of poverty in the least economically free countries is 25 times greater than in the most economically free.

As we have the “affordability” discussion, it is critical we keep this in mind.

Areas of the economy that are getting the most attention are the overall rate of inflation and energy costs and housing costs in addition to health care costs.

Those on the left, the progressives, see rising costs as an opportunity to advance their big government agenda.

But that agenda will just make costs worse and diminish economic growth and hence incomes, reducing our ability to make purchases regardless of what things cost.

Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS. COM