Dumb Statist Thoughts: If not for government, restaurants would serve dirty and tainted food

My favorite Pupusa restaurant got shut down due to health code violations. While I mourn for my loss I mourn further at those who don't understand basic economics and are praising government for protecting us. For 'were it not for government, restaurants would serve dirty and tainted food!'

Imma bout to drop some truth bombs on you....

No matter your religious or political or socioeconomic beliefs there is one truth that does not change:

The law of supply and demand exists, and it influences human behavior.

So let me ask, is there human demand for clean restaurants?

The answer is a resounding yes.

Currently the government has claimed the right to provide the supply to this demand.

The problem? Their supply is mostly monopolistic.

A private business could start a business rating cleanliness of kitchens. Government likely wouldn't stop them.

But government has the massive advantage of:

• financing the supply with tax dollars. They can claim what they want to finance their endeavors
• coercive force over the licensing process. They will physically stop you from opening your restaurant unless you take their supply

So a private business COULD directly compete, but the government has created a near monopoly and this drives out competition.

So let's say that tomorrow the government says they're done with that service. No longer will they provide supply to the demand for clean restaurants.

Will the demand go away when the supply dries up?

Of course not!

So who will provide it?

Capitalists.

Capitalists will exploit the demand and provide supply. And they'll do it better and cheaper.

Why?

Because company A will develop a system for measuring cleanliness and accountability. And restaurants will pay because customers will want to know they're going to a clean place (demand still exists).

But then company B will figure out a better way that customers trust and is cheaper. They'll gain market share.

Company C also starts. Their process isn't great. They're cheap, but customers don't trust them as much.

Company D sucks. They go out of business.

And so on.

As the market develops each company keeps trying to innovate to keep quality up while also innovating to keep costs down.

Service keeps getting better and more affordable.

Some restaurants won't participate. Then maybe they will keep it clean kitchen and maybe they won't do. But at least customers will know that it's up to them to figure it out at that point. Or not. Perhaps the demand doesn't come from every single consumer.

Regardless, juxtapose that process with the current process. You have bloated organizations that do a piss poor job of regulating cleanliness in kitchens.

Why would you want worse service at a higher price?

Because a free market scares you. That's why.