I cannot believe that letter writer (Tuesday Review-Journal) Laurence Siegel would compare job losses in the private sector (Spirit Airlines) with job losses in the public sector (DOGE) as if there were no difference. Only the private sector can create jobs and wealth. All the public sector can do is spend that wealth, which it collects from the people who work in the private sector.
Those engaging in trade in the private sector always gain. For example, if I were to buy a car for $5,000, both the seller and I would be better off. If that were not true, no trade would’ve been made. Yet if we take money out of one person’s pocket and stick it into another person’s pocket, one person has clearly gained but the other has lost.
Of course, many people are happy to have other people finance waste, fraud and abuse. But I think most people outside the public sector would rather buy something they can use, like a car.
