This Isn’t Free Market Capitalism. It’s Diet Fascism

I am a free market capitalist. I want less government. I want less taxes and regulations.

I want free people to be free to do as they wish. Broadly, I’d like economic freedom —predicated upon Thomas Jefferson’s description of religious freedom:

“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

Again, broadly: If my neighbor’s economic activities neither pick my pocket nor break my leg? They can have at it — and the very best of luck to them.

Perhaps most importantly: I want equal protection before the law. I want both my corner store and Amazon to face the same laws, regulations and taxes.

Here is where the problems begin to arise.

The United States is not a free market capitalist economy. It has not been for many, many decades.

Even worse, we still operate under the delusion that it is. Every economic debate D.C. has — is had through this warped, false prism.

Wonder why socialism is currently skyrocketing in popularity in the U.S.?

What we call capitalism? Is actually Diet Fascism — with a heaping side of warmongering globalism.

And at least in socialism — when government wastes the money? It’s doing so in the U.S. Some of it may slosh around and actually help some Americans.

That doesn’t happen when we launch yet another idiotic war overseas.

Yes: I would describe what we have now long had in the U.S. — as Diet Fascism.

As people rush to clutch their pearls at the very notion? Let’s define our terms — and see where we actually are.

Classic Fascism — stripped of all the ideological tripe:

“Fascism, in the context of business and government, refers to a political and economic system where the state exerts significant control over the economy, often through corporatism.”

Corporatism?:

“This system is designed to promote collaboration between the state and businesses….”

All of which sounds exactly like what’s going on in the US. It is certainly WAY closer to reality than attempting to classify it as free market capitalism.

The U.S. economy last year was ~$30 trillion. The federal government last year spent ~$7 trillion. And regulated at a cost of ~$2 trillion.

The Feds share of the power of the economy? (At least) 30%. That’s fascism’s “significant control.” And it only grows more significant every year.

And by the way: The Feds’ $39+ trillion debt? And its $1+ trillion in per annum interest payments? Is The Feds controlling even more of the economy. The more money they owe and borrow — the less there is for the private sector. And the debt and interest only grow more significant every year.

Again: “Significant control.”

Are Big Gov and Big Biz in nigh harmonic, fascist convergence? You bet they are.

There was $6 billion spent last year lobbying The Feds. Which, when compared to the $9+ trillion that $6 billion is spent to sway? Is but a mere pittance.

But nowhere in the history of humanity has there been a greater Return on Investment (ROI) than in D.C. in the 21st Century. That $6 billion — netted trillions in cronyism.

Special laws. Special tax rates. Special tax breaks. Special incentives. Government subsidies. Regulatory carve outs. Zero antitrust impediments. Zero prosecutions of corporate crimes.

And on, and on, and….

Of course your neighborhood retailers aren’t a part of that $6 billion buy-in. But their Big Biz competitor Amazon ($2.7 trillion Market Cap – $18.9 million in 2025 lobbying) is a huge part thereof.

How did Big Biz get so big? Massive Big Gov cronyism.

This is how our marketplace has become so consolidated (and polluted). Only Big Biz can afford Big Gov. So Big Biz pays for Big Gov — and then weaponizes it.

A great example: The 2008 financial collapse was an entirely fascist endeavor.

Big Gov incentivized the Big Banks to make trillions of dollars’ worth of idiotic mortgage loans. By buying the stupid loans from the Big Banks seconds after they were made.

And when the inevitable collapse occurred? Big Gov bailed out the Big Banks — to the tune of $29 trillion.

And then came the fascist legislation. We were told Big Gov’s woefully misnamed Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was going to end “too big to fail” banks.

It instead murdered thousands of small banks. Which the Big Banks then consumed on the cheap – making themselves even bigger.

Big Gov and Big Biz working hand-in-hand. To screw the rest of US. Fascism.

Except: Why do I classify it as Diet Fascism? Rather than Classic Fascism?

Because in the U.S., corporations dictate terms to the government – not the other way round.

A great example? Big Tech dominating D.C. — and getting whatever it wants from Big Gov.

Think Big Gov has any real sway at all? Look at all the politicians who campaign on “Draining the Swamp.” Or “Taking on the Deep State.” Or whatever euphemisms you wish to extract from history.

These politicians then get to D.C. — and realize they don’t have any power whatsoever. They are Big Gov order takers for Big Biz.

To get their share of the $6 billion lobby money — and the $14+ billion in bi-annual campaign money? They have to play ball.

And it is Big Biz that is pitching. Big Gov is catching.

Just about everyone in Big Gov plays ball. And when someone doesn’t?

See: Thomas Massie. Kentucky 4th’s Republican congressman has spent his career voting against the DC cronyism racket — and chronicling the corruption.

And what do his morality and fealty to the Constitution get him?

DC’s Big Gov-Big Biz guns turned on him.

Because Fascism — Diet or otherwise – can not allow ANY disloyalty to stand:

“Fascism suppresses dissent through a combination of legal repression, extralegal violence, censorship, and propaganda, creating an environment of fear and control.”

If all of this doesn’t sound like the U.S. in 2026? You haven’t been paying any attention at all.

Seton Motley is a consultant and the founder and president of Less Government, an organization dedicated to, well, less government. This op-ed was originally posted on the author’s Substack page, and can be viewed here.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.