You are deliberately cherry picking and spinning my words. I said that I agree with the definition, but the definition only covers 1 aspect of the free market, the free market encompasses that definition, but it's more than that.
It's like a venn diagram between the dictionary definition, and my definition, and the intersecting point is the correct one.
You know exactly how much cartels and the government distorts the market, however you dont admit it directly. How can a free (freedom) market be one that is distorted by these forces.
Cartels dont fit in the definition of free markets, because when the competition is high, then cartels cant exist, since none of the players have enough share to turn over the rest of them.
Think about it as the bitcoin mining distribution, even if the top 3 mining sites bind together they still cannot reach the 51% majority.Why?
Because the bitcoin mining space IS a free market.
Whether the gov. influences the market is a whole other question - just like a mosquito taking a dump in the jungle, thereby influencing the weather - so I won't comment on that.
I gave you the definition and you said "pretty much spot on"; you didn't say "yes, but that's only one part".
Here's a checklist for you - yes-or-no questions:
In the US., do private businesses:
a) set their own prices among each other, and
b) do they compete with one another.