We recently addressed the public backlash surrounding Cuban Labor Minister Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, who drew criticism after claiming that “there are no beggars in Cuba”—instead suggesting that people seen scavenging through trash were simply doing so to make “easy money.” Her remarks reflect a broader issue: when governments operate in ideological echo chambers, detached from economic reality, their officials often speak down to citizens without accountability.
This type of thinking is common among authoritarian and overly bureaucratic regimes. When speech is censored and dissent is suppressed, leadership often convinces itself it holds moral superiority—while simultaneously eroding the very institutions that uphold civil society.
Feitó’s comments revealed a dangerous mindset: that economic hardship is the fault of the people, not the policies. That if only citizens followed the government’s exact directives, poverty and crisis wouldn’t exist. But the reality is far more complex—and governments across the world are often responsible for obstructing solutions, particularly in industries like recycling and waste management.
The Hidden Economics Behind Plastic Waste
Take plastic pollution as a case study. In theory, plastics are one of the most recyclable materials on earth. In practice, however, government-imposed labor restrictions, price controls, environmental mandates, and punitive taxation have made large-scale, private-sector recycling nearly impossible in many countries.
Instead of creating incentives for entrepreneurs to innovate in the waste management space, governments often hand over entire industries to powerful unions or tightly regulate them out of profitability. Local recycling businesses are suffocated by red tape, burdened by minimum wage laws, carbon taxes, or ever-expanding environmental compliance standards that render market-based solutions economically unviable.
Meanwhile, “environmentalists”—many of whom have no background in market economics—tend to push for more regulations rather than scalable private solutions. Without understanding basic economic principles, including Austrian economics or price mechanisms, they often demand centralized government responses that only increase inefficiency and waste.
No Market, No Incentive
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: plastic ends up in landfills or oceans not because people don’t care—but because government policy has eliminated the incentive to recycle. In a functional market, used plastics would have value. In fact, China once dominated the global plastic recycling industry by monetizing what others threw away.
But in much of the Western world today, manufacturing has been outsourced, and economies have shifted toward service sectors. This means fewer domestic industries are willing or able to repurpose recyclable materials. If there’s no demand for used plastic, recycling becomes a loss-making endeavor—and no rational business will take on the risk.
Even individuals who might strip electronics for parts or collect recyclables must weigh time, cost, and regulation. When profit margins disappear, so does the motivation. That’s not laziness—that’s basic economics.
Regulation Without Innovation
The irony is that many governments want to appear green, yet do everything possible to destroy the market mechanisms that make sustainability work. Regulation is passed in the name of environmental protection, but without private-sector flexibility or incentive alignment, results are dismal.
What’s worse, the media and activist groups often target these businesses when minor accidents occur or compliance standards aren’t met. One misstep, and a recycling facility could face fines, protests, or even forced closure. Who would want to operate under those conditions?
In reality, many small-scale recycling efforts are forms of manufacturing. These operations—if properly supported—could reduce waste, create jobs, and contribute to a circular economy. But overreach and misinformation have driven a wedge between public concern and practical solutions.
Censorship and Economic Illiteracy Go Hand-in-Hand
The root of the problem isn’t just bad policy—it’s censorship. Economic literacy is rarely taught in schools, and discussions about price controls, supply chains, and regulation are often missing from public discourse. This intellectual void allows politicians and “thought leaders” to push simplistic solutions to complex problems, while the public is kept unaware of how markets actually function.
It’s the same kind of distortion that leads people to accept selective interpretations of sacred texts without ever reading them directly. For example, many people believe the Bible advocates for poverty—yet haven’t read it for themselves. In truth, Scripture contains countless principles about stewardship, trade, ownership, responsibility, and wealth-building.
Much like economic truth, biblical truth requires context, reflection, and independent engagement. Those in power—whether political or religious—often discourage people from exploring these sources independently because knowledge threatens control.
Final Thought: Reclaiming Personal Responsibility
Plastic is a petroleum-based product. And like many other materials we consume, it can be recycled. But when taxation, regulation, and censorship distort the marketplace, people lose the freedom and motivation to act.
So the next time someone says plastic waste is a result of consumer apathy, remember this: it’s not about people refusing to act—it’s about governments refusing to get out of the way.
And if you’re searching for clarity in a confused world—whether in economics, governance, or purpose—consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today. The truth is not only liberating; it’s foundational. In Christ, we are called to both wisdom and accountability—two things desperately missing from today’s policy debates.