I think the thesis is correct - but I couldn't finish this piece. I tuned out after the comment about diamond scarcity. Diamonds are their own example of econo

I think the thesis is correct - but I couldn't finish this piece. I tuned out after the comment about diamond scarcity. Diamonds are their own example of economic rent extraction through monopoly/artificial supply. Might be more interesting to explore the parallels between diamond cartels and banking cartels. Once concept that is largely dead in American thinking is "anti trust" - the idea that powerful companies might act in mutually beneficial ways. The recent consolidation of mega-financial institutions is a fairly obvious case, but america is either willfully obtuse (or deliberately) in not seeing this as a problem to address. Sure, let one company have larger notional derivatives exposure than the entire world economy (JP Morgan) - what could possibly go wrong? What are you, a communist?? It's hard to do commentary well, referencing a wide range of subjects and facts. Details need to be right.