Can you show us an example where free market reforms did not increase the supply and lower the cost of something? You guys whine incessantly about the use of taxpayer money to stimulate trade but say nothing about hundreds of billions going to millionaire farmers or the impact this welfare has on the price of food.
Protectionists fear competition for many reasons. The facts prove that competition is good for both taxpayers and consumers. American agriculture is, and will continue to be, the world leader. Welfare is not responsible for that being so. Competition and innovation is.
After rent control was abolished in Boston metropolitan area the rent skyrocketed (tripled or more). Number of apartments did not increase much.
After electric supply systems got privatized (in the same area) the prices went up. The town in which I live refused to privatize and the price of electricity is lower than in the towns around.