The Danger of Doing the Right Thing the Wrong Way: MFN and the Risks of Executive Price Controls
At Let.Live, we support the idea that all Americans should have the liberty to seek the healthcare they can afford — including prescription medications. It’s frustrating, even infuriating, that people in other countries pay far less for the same drugs that many Americans struggle to afford. But achieving a good result through a bad process is not victory—it’s a compromise of principle. That’s why we must look critically at former President Trump’s proposal to impose international reference pricing through executive order, also known as the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rule.
It’s not just what you do—it’s how you do it. And how we do things defines our national character.
Price Fixing: A Tyrant’s Tool, Not a Free Market Solution
The MFN order would force U.S. drug prices under Medicare to match the lowest price paid by other developed countries. At first glance, that might sound fair. But in reality, it’s government-imposed price fixing, plain and simple. And price fixing has always been the hallmark of authoritarian economics—not liberty.
History shows us that when governments dictate prices—whether it’s for bread, gas, rent, or medicine—the result is almost always the same: shortages, reduced innovation, black markets, and deteriorating service quality. This approach violates the basic premise of a free market: that voluntary exchange, competition, and open access lead to better products and fairer prices over time.
The Right Result, the Wrong Way
There are ways to help Americans pay less for prescription drugs—ways that don’t compromise our economic freedom. One simple solution? Allow Americans to legally purchase medications from international or domestic pharmacies that import foreign stock. American pharmacies already buy goods from global markets, and individuals should have the right to do the same.
If insulin costs $5 a vial in Canada and $60 in the U.S., we don’t need the government to fix the price. We need the government to get out of the way and let the market work. Consumers should have the freedom to seek the best deal—just like they do for any other product. The competition that would follow would pressure U.S. pharmaceutical companies to adjust prices without a single executive order.
Eroding the Boundaries of Executive Power
Even more concerning than the policy itself is the precedent it sets. When a president—any president—decides to override market dynamics through executive fiat, it pushes us further down a path where the ends justify the means. But in a free society, the means are the measure of our freedom.
Using executive power to impose price controls undermines Congress, bypasses public debate, and erodes checks and balances. What one president can do, another can undo—or extend even further. Today, it’s drug prices. Tomorrow, it might be wages, rents, or allowable profits. Where does it stop?
The Let.Live Alternative: Liberty Through Access
If we truly want to honor both affordability and freedom, we must champion policies that expand choice, not restrict it. That means:
- Legalizing drug importation for consumers and pharmacies alike
- Increasing transparency in pharmaceutical pricing
- Removing barriers that protect monopolies instead of patients
- Promoting competition, not controlling prices
These reforms would drive down costs organically, without turning the President into a central planner.
Conclusion: Principle Over Panic
We understand the urgency of high drug prices. But we must never let desperation erode our dedication to liberty. As history has taught us time and again, trading away freedom for a short-term fix rarely leads to lasting justice.
A good outcome achieved through the wrong method is not truly good—it’s a compromise. At Let.Live, we believe that freedom, transparency, and market access are not just morally right—they’re practically effective. Let’s solve our healthcare challenges without surrendering the principles that define us.
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