The high cost of living and inflation are among the top financial issues facing Americans, according to Gallup data. However, "affordability" and "cost of living" are not the same thing. The author argues that the focus should be on affordability, not cost of items purchased for personal and family needs, but capability. Bernie Sanders, the socialist leader, acknowledges that health care costs in the US are a problem, but Parker argues that government intervention is the cause of the problem, not the solution. He argues that more government means more waste, more inefficiency and more fraud, leading to higher costs. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports $186 billion in improper payments by the federal government in 2025, up $24 billion from the previous year.