This question involves monopolizing anything from business to public opinion. How do you feel about Monopolies?

We are not talking about the Parker Brothers game either, so spare the jokes.

So far all the voters agree with me.

That makes two of us!

I think almost all monopolies are bad. I believe government must intervene to break them up/prevent their formation. Consumers can also help.

I voted #2:
Monopolies should be tamed by the government and consumers.

You did not give me the option to vote for a public monopoly like water or electric utilities. I think they have an important role to play.

I think private monopolies are a bad, bad, bad. :no:

Interesting.

Does a public monopoly over something means no privatization of any part of it?

That is a good question billfmsd -

For me the public service should be the deciding factor. Would some privatization enhance or undermine the public service provided by the public monopoly.

The US Postal Service is government service, and when UPS began "competing" the postal service objected.

It is true that UPS and other private companies skim off the profits, leaving the postal service with the duty of delivering to unprofitable locations...

But, in this example, UPS is not part of the monopoly; it is "competing" with a government service...

So, maybe "monopoly" is not the right word for what I support. I would like to see more - "we the people" - public services like electricity, water, education, healthcare, but I think there is a place for private "competitors" in this mix.

So, tell us bill - what do you have in mind here.

Give us an example of a monopoly (other than Microsoft )

Mac users like me don't consider Microsoft a complete monopoly.

I don't know if there is a complete monopoly in existence. But I do see a growing amount of monopolization in almost every market. I was just curious as to how everyone feels about them.

Yes, I agree. This is nothing like a public service monopoly. What we are seeing is a return of 19th century capitalism - unbridled greed.


I would imagine a lot of people are seeing it too, but feel there isn't much we can do.

The problem occurs when our elected "representatives" are looking out for the corporations, and saying: "What is good for business, is good for America". That is a joke

That may have been somewhat true before our borders disappeared and we became a "global economy". In this "new world order", we need representatives who will look out for the people.