I agree. I may be talking straight out of my ass, but I've been stewing on a chain of events I think I've been following in the USA: We've left rates too low

I agree. I may be talking straight out of my ass, but I've been stewing on a chain of events I think I've been following in the USA: We've left rates too low for too long - my observation is that industries are consolidating left and right with that leeway (who cares if it takes 20 years to see a return, keep buying competitors). These consolidated, indebted monoliths are then either run terribly (so they get bailouts to protect voters with jobs - General Motors) or diving head first into anti-consumer rent seeking (to pay off their debts from consolidating - the whole Shkreli debacle). These companies, either unable to pay off debts or diving into anti-consumer behaviors, will in turn have people voting for politicians who will gain the power to tell the monoliths how to operate, and next thing you know these particular companies are at risk of becoming direct extensions of the government, where their operations are dictated by a central authority (we have yet to fully embrace this phase in the USA, but we get so close every few years). I can think of several historical examples where a central authority dictating how industry is run is a bad thing. Personally I think it's a feature that companies fail, and we need to encourage our businesses to be happy to take the money and run, not perform this balloon up and seek rent song and dance. I think rate hikes can be a great way to achieve this incentive by increasing the risk involved in such large scale maneuvers. I'd also be down for some good old fashioned Ma Bell break ups, however IMO it seems like there are too many companies in this position to know where to start. I may be misinformed but it feels endemic in our country. Does anyone else have any thoughts? EDIT: some phrasing