While what you say is certainly true, I also wonder about political aspects to this. To what extent is the extreme hockey stick here indirect evidence of the ex

While what you say is certainly true, I also wonder about political aspects to this. To what extent is the extreme hockey stick here indirect evidence of the existence of an oligarchy with the ability to subvert or sidestep (e.g. access to Federal contracts, Fed bailouts and 0% interest loans, etc.) the market?