It beats my family dying of thirst because of government policy - enforced by legions of armed agents, if necessary - prevents my access to it. If the price of

It beats my family dying of thirst because of government policy - enforced by legions of armed agents, if necessary - prevents my access to it. If the price of water is artificially set below market value, then demand is higher and supply is lower than it would otherwise be. If it costs $3 / gallon to transport water to where I live, and the government sets the price of water at $2 / gallon, guess what? No one transports water to where I live. Without that intervention, water might cost $4 / gallon, but at least it's available.