Let People Prosper

America’s welfare system is deeply fragmented, costly, and often counterproductive—making it harder, not easier, for people to move forward. I recently joined an online debate on welfare reform framed as a choice between stronger work requirements or structural changes like “One Door” to Work. But that’s the wrong question. The real question is this: how do we reduce dependency, waste fewer taxpay...

Washington keeps spending like there’s no tomorrow. The problem is—there is. And the bill is coming due. Trillion-dollar deficits are now the norm. Interest costs are exploding. Politicians talk about “fiscal responsibility,” but the numbers tell a very different story. This isn’t a temporary problem. It’s structural. In Episode 196 of the Let People Prosper Show, I interviewed Dr. Patrick Horan o...

Why does government policy so often focus on short-term fixes instead of long-term growth? In This Week’s Economy , we explore how political incentives shape economic policy—and why that leads to decisions that look good today but create bigger problems tomorrow. We break down: • Public choice economics and how politicians respond to incentives • Why short-term policies like redistribution and reg...

Why do good ideas fail—and bad ones win? In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Josh Bandoch about the art and science of persuasion and why facts alone aren’t enough to change minds. We explore how people actually process information, the role of emotion and trust in decision-making, and why many policy arguments fall flat despite strong evidence. If you want to become more e...

Affordability isn’t improving—and policy is a major reason why. In this episode of This Week’s Economy , we unpack how inflation, government spending, regulatory burdens, and supply restrictions are driving up costs and limiting opportunity across the U.S. The conflict is real: policymakers keep expanding government while families face higher prices and fewer options. We cover: • March CPI and wha...

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly—but policymakers are struggling to keep up, and in many cases, getting it wrong. In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Logan Kolas of the American Consumer Institute about the growing wave of state-level AI regulations and the risks they pose to innovation, competition, and consumers. We discuss why fragmented regulations can slow...

Taxes are inevitable—but a broken tax code doesn’t have to be. In this episode of This Week’s Economy , I take a closer look at how America’s tax system affects families, businesses, and long-term economic growth. We discuss why tax complexity matters, how current policies distort decisions, and what reforms could create a simpler, more pro-growth system that helps people prosper. 🎧 Watch now and...

Economics is about how people make choices under scarcity—not just money. In this episode, I talk with Jimmy DeNicco of Rice University about the core principles of economics and how they shape policy, markets, and everyday decisions. We break down tradeoffs, incentives, tariffs, and why understanding economics is essential for prosperity. 🔗 More: vanceginn.com | vanceginn.substack.com

We’re at a moment where support for free-market capitalism is slipping—and it’s not hard to see why. From both political parties, we’re hearing the same kinds of ideas: cap prices, punish profits, and have the government take a more active role in managing markets. Politicians are increasingly trying to pick outcomes, override prices, and direct capital. And history is clear: this doesn’t fix capi...

Texas is often seen as a model for freedom and economic growth—but many Texans aren’t feeling it. In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with TX State Representative Brian Harrison (R) to discuss rising property taxes, record state spending, and the growing gap between Texas’s reputation and reality. We explore why budget surpluses haven’t translated into lasting tax relief, wh...

Are age-verification mandates really the solution to protecting kids online? In this episode of This Week’s Economy , we examine the rapid push by states to regulate app stores and social media platforms—and the serious risks these policies create. We cover: • Why the evidence behind smartphone-driven mental health claims is mixed • How digital ID systems threaten privacy and free speech • Why the...

America’s next wave of economic growth—from artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing—will require one critical input: abundant, reliable energy. In this episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Brian Gitt of Oklo to explore how advanced nuclear reactors could transform the energy landscape and help meet rapidly rising electricity demand. We discuss the connection between AI...

The numbers are in—and the economy is flashing warning signs. A weakening labor market, rising healthcare costs, slowing growth, and increasing uncertainty are not isolated issues. They are the predictable consequences of policy decisions shaping today’s economy. In this episode of This Week’s Economy , we break down what’s really happening across jobs, Medicare, regulation, trade, and taxes—and w...

Affordability is the defining economic issue for millions of Americans. In this episode, I talk with Michael R. Strain, Ph. D., of the American Enterprise Institute about inflation, tariffs, and why rising costs—not wages—are the real challenge facing families today. We explore what the data say, where policymakers are getting it wrong, and what a pro-growth path forward could look like. 🎧 Listen...

Free-market capitalism remains the best system ever discovered for human flourishing. Yet political support for it is wavering — and that should alarm anyone who cares about prosperity and freedom. A recent Gallup poll on Americans’ views of capitalism and socialism found that just 54% of Americans now view capitalism favorably — the lowest level Gallup has ever recorded. The partisan breakdown is...

If tariffs truly created prosperity, countries that raise the most trade barriers would be the richest in the world. They aren’t. Yet protectionism keeps returning to Washington politics like a bad sequel nobody asked for. Why? The answer often has less to do with economics and more to do with political incentives. In Episode 189 of the Let People Prosper Show, I interviewed Dr. David Hebert, Seni...

What’s on Americans’ minds? The latest primary election results offered a window into what voters are thinking about. In my home state of Texas, voters sent a clear signal by backing efforts to eliminate property taxes through spending reductions. Across the country, Americans are asking for the same things: lower taxes, a more affordable future, and a strong economy that creates opportunities. Bu...

When a state’s budget grows 65% in seven years while families feel poorer, something isn’t adding up. That’s the story unfolding in Maine politics right now. Government spending has surged, taxes remain high, and yet affordability continues to erode. In Episode 188 of the Let People Prosper Show , we dig into what’s happening—and what could change. I recently spoke with Maine State Rep. Laurel Lib...

The U.S. is a global leader in technology and innovation. That didn’t happen by chance. It happened because our economic institutions have historically emphasized decentralized decision-making, strong property rights, capital formation, and competition on the merits. In recent years, antitrust enforcement has drifted away from economics and toward structural and precautionary theories that treat s...

What happens when public policy is built on narratives instead of numbers? We get bloated budgets, broken housing markets, and education systems that spend more but deliver less. In a world flooded with information, the real scarcity is truth. This episode features guest  Jim Agresti , founder and president of  Just Facts , to discuss public policy, misinformation, data analysis, housing affordabi...

Affordability may be the defining word of 2026. After years of elevated inflation, a housing affordability crisis, and signs of softness in the labor market, many Americans are feeling squeezed—and looking for answers. You can expect this issue to loom large at the polls in November. That’s why state and federal lawmakers should confront one of the central drivers of this “unaffordable” economy: f...

If politics feels angrier, dumber, and more tribal than ever, you’re not imagining it. Smart people are talking past each other. Good intentions collide. Every issue becomes a moral emergency. And somehow, even ideas that once united people—like trade, cooperation, and innovation—now trigger outrage. This episode gets to the why . My guest is Arnold Kling —one of the most original thinkers on how...

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept or a Silicon Valley experiment—it’s already shaping how we learn, work, and deliver care. From classrooms and hospitals to small businesses and local governments, AI is quietly changing how much we can do with the time and resources we have. While this progress has sparked excitement, it has also triggered a familiar political response: fear. W...

Washington never runs out of ideas for spending money it doesn’t have. This episode of the Let People Prosper Show takes on one of the latest examples: so-called “Trump Accounts.” Marketed as a pro-family, pro-capitalism idea, they’re actually another case of federal social engineering through the tax code—layered on top of an already broken fiscal foundation. To unpack it all, I sat down with Ver...

Economic policy affects more than just spreadsheets. When leaders fail to control spending, undermine markets, or delay hard decisions, families feel it through higher prices, fewer opportunities, and slower growth. With rising concerns about affordability, the consequences of poor economic policy aren’t abstract — they shape how people live, work, and plan for the future. Price controls, restrict...