Are cartels inherently unethical? The US government approves of and protects certain cartels (e.g. unions, hospital systems, defense contractors). If anything,

Are cartels inherently unethical? The US government approves of and protects certain cartels (e.g. unions, hospital systems, defense contractors). If anything, cartels thrive under heavily regulated and dirigiste economic systems, where as in an unregulated market a cartel would eventually lose to a competitor or succumb to infighting.