Joe Biden Tried To Use the Regulatory State To Micromanage Everything
In the January 2025 issue of Reason, we’re giving performance reviews of Joe Biden’s presidency. Click here to read the other entries.
On domestic regulatory issues, Biden has shown initiative and a willingness to go above and beyond what is called for. It’s too bad that’s the opposite of what a good presidential job performance entails. The ideal candidate here is someone unwilling or unmotivated to find new outlets for regulation, but the Biden administration has proved all too eager to expand the regulatory state’s reach.
Take Biden’s obsession with “junk fees,” by which he means basically anything a business charges for perks (such as checking bags during a flight) or as penalties (like bank overdraft fees). Such fees can serve important and legitimate purposes, but Biden has framed them all as simple points of corporate “greed.” Because it can’t directly eliminate them, the administration has decided they must be disclosed in particular ways—saving Americans from the pain of, say, having to read about cable costs in two separate lines instead of one.
It’s silly, sure, but it exemplifies the administration’s belief that basically any area of business is fair game for federal regulators. And Biden’s business micromanagement extends way beyond fee disclosures.
Following Biden orders, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) outlawed noncompete clauses (a rule
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
