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The whole idea of breaking monopolies and now allowing a free market is that after a certain point, you don't want these companies improving their product, beca
by moate 8y ago
The whole idea of breaking monopolies and now allowing a free market is that after a certain point, you don't want these companies improving their product, because their "product" just becomes "a whole market segment that large chunks of the population need".
The natural progression of any company is to get larger and buy up more and more of the market in order to improve its product, prevent its competitors from improving their products, and widen its reach. This is the basis of capitalism. The problem is that because these companies have so much money, they're able to buy legislation, solely determine market conditions, and generally stack the odds in their favor (which isn't "wrong" per say, but isn't always in the common good). They may even do this will continuing to produce the best product in their sector. The issue always comes down to the idea of "Who do you trust more to represent the general human population, corporations or government" and there's good arguments for/against both sides being the one who SHOULD be the determinate.
- mikhailt 8y agoBut you can’t be sure that splitting the companies doesn’t prevent them from doing it again alas Ma Bell > ATT + larger mergers of Bells over times. I just don’t understand how it helps. It would be nice if you can recommend any resources I can look at on this topic.
- Apocryphon 8y agoHere's one possible case study, Standard Oil: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee120/node/226 https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee120/node/226
- gregknicholson 8y ago> because these companies have so much money, they're able to This is the basis of capitalism. The more capital you have, the more power you have. So capital multiplies. > generally stack the odds in their favor (which isn't "wrong" per say, but isn't always in the common good) Once you have enough capital, you have the power to remove alternative options. This isn't a flaw in the capitalist model; this is the capitalist model.
- moate 8y agoPreaching to the communist choir here. At a certain point, I think you need to go out of your way and hobble a company or roll it into the State in order to keep it working for the Public if you're going to allow private ownership at all.