John Stossel: In Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, I bet my readers $1,000 that they couldn't name one thing that government does better than the private sector ... I am yet to pay. During a recent comment war, a hard-left poster held up the post office as an example of efficient, effective government supplying a service superior to the private sector. As with most arguments from the left side of the peanut gallery, it was so eye-crossingly wrong I found it difficult to quickly come up with a riposte.

"If you put a stamp on a letter," as I recall the comment went, "it will always get there."

Yes, true. For $0.44, I can mail a letter with the reasonable assumption it will arrive at its destination in 3-5 days. Fifty-seven years ago, that same letter would reach the same destination in the same period of time, for an inflation-adjusted $0.28. It might even arrive faster, since back then the Post Office delivered twice a day. The same service for 63% more of my money. That's progress right there, yup. Progressive, even...

Of course, since markets never guarantee a successful outcome for everyone, they are by definition evil. As I've said elsewhere, it is far better for a child to starve in justice than to eat in the shadow of prosperity.

Via Instapundit.