We always say, "Ah, if only the Free Market were just allowed to function."

Allowed by whom? Is the free market so free that it needs permission to function? Are we all just little lambs who will just complain lightly when our free markets are destroyed by predators who cannot be reasoned with; who use your reason against you?

We should rather say, "Ah, if only we had the strength to defend our Free Markets and destroy its enemies."

Because markets are only as free as their participants. If the participants are slaves, then the market is enslaved as well. If the markets are distorted, then its participants are distorted as well.