Realist, not conformist analysis of the latest financial, business and political news

Elizabeth Warren’s Against Monopoly – OK, Against In Education, In Guns?

Elizabeth Warren is arguing that Big Tech is getting terribly monopoly-like and we really ought to do something about that. Hmm, well, it’s an interesting contention at least. Certainly we should always be considering whether monopoly is arising, market power being accumulated and even, if it is, is it being exercised to the detriment of consumers?

So, the initial thought to be picking at, worrying about, seems reasonable enough:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] The story demonstrates why promoting competition is so important: it allows new, groundbreaking companies to grow and thrive — which pushes everyone in the marketplace to offer better products and services. Aren’t we all glad that now we have the option of using Google instead of being stuck with Bing? Today’s big tech companies have too much power — too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy. They’ve bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field against everyone else. And in the process, they have hurt small businesses and stifled innovation. [/perfectpullquote] [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]I want a government that makes sure everybody — even the biggest and most powerful companies in America — plays by the rules. And I want to make sure that the next generation of great American tech companies can flourish. To do that, we need to stop this generation of big tech companies from throwing around their political power to shape the rules in their favor and throwing around their economic power to snuff out or buy up every potential competitor.[/perfectpullquote]

OK. We dislike monopoly and we’re going to do something about it. Because competition is a good thing.

At which point:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Competition is generally good. For example, we’d not be all that overjoyed if there was just the one provider of some good or service therefore they could charge what they liked. This is the argument for charter schools, that the local education board should not be the monopoly supplier of schooling to the little ones. It’s also one of the arguments for the Second Amendment, that government shouldn’t be the only people with guns.[/perfectpullquote]

Nice to hear that she’s fully behind that right to bear arms. Also, that she’s willing to take on the major financiers of the Democratic Party, the teachers’ unions. Good on her actually, for she is right, monopoly and economic power concentrations are things we’d rather not have. For they are detrimental to consumers.

23 Things We Are Telling You About Capitalism

I mean she is going to do this, isn’t she? Be consistent and follow her own declared logic? Tell Randi Weingarten she’s full of it and that the children come first?

Yes, of course she is, politics being an occupation and profession of honour.

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Q46
Q46
5 years ago

‘I mean she is going to do this, isn’t she?’

Depends what you mean by ‘is’. (tm Bill Clinton)

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