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This message was self-deleted by its author (goldenheart) on Tue May 15, 2018, 04:08 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.
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The Biggest Economic Problem You Aren't Hearing About
Monopolies are making life worse for the vast majority of us while enriching the very few.
Duh.
This is new news?
Reich is grasping if he believes no on has "heard about" this.
Wow.
Last edited Tue May 8, 2018, 03:26 PM - Edit history (1)
in the news, especially as such, "monopolies" likely due to the term's negative connotations and history.
Industry consolidation into one or several companies is very dangerous for the economy, workers, consumers and society. Monopolistic consolidation pools extreme wealth for the few at the top, and leaves many at the bottom struggling. Because they lack any competition monopolies are also able to jack up prices. Diversity and variety in business and many aspects of life are healthiest.
IF people even know what the term monopoly means, some think it was only in practice long ago, way back in the robber baron age of Carnegie, Rockefeller and JP Morgan as Reich says. Big mistake.
Since the 1980s monopolies and duopolies exist now in many industries in the US as Reich states- only 4-5 major banks, same with consolidated media giants, big Ag, consumer goods, pharma, retail, airlines, more. Major conglomerates like Unilever control household consumer products from dish soap and diapers to batteries and mouthwash. Companies enlarge and become more profitable through take overs, mergers (M & As), buyouts and putting other companies out of business. ~ The Big Fish Eat the Little Fish ~
Media conglomerates, mostly conservative and owned by the very wealthy must be re-regulated and broken up by renewing the discarded 1949 Fairness Doctrine and the early 1900s Sherman Anti Trust Act that Reich talks about in the video. A balanced media with many choices and outlets is critical to having an informed and learned public in a functioning democracy, as stated in the US Constitution. This is the very reason why specific groups esp. anti democratic and authoritarian want and have control of all media- from Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels in 1930s- 40s Germany, to USSR, governments in Latin America, all over the globe.
*"Accuse the other side of that which you are guilty. ~ Always tell the biggest lie and use it over and over."* Jos. Goebbels
Media & movie/entertainment empires like Disney enlarging for decades. All's a mess but beneficial for some.
That consumer Chart is only of major household product corps. It used to clearly show sub-brands. But I now see the graphic has been blurred to obscure the smaller co. names when copying and pasting.
US airline consolidation.
there is an illusion of having lots of choices. But in reality we could have lots of different brands with the profits rolling up to one or two parent companies. And they have tremendous pricing power and they use it.
What else are we going to do? Buy organic? Many of the organic products at the natural foods store with independent looking packaging are actually owned by massive conglomerates.
Don't get me started on fraudulent farmers markets selling imported produce gassed with ethelene. I hope no millennials actually believe oranges and bananas and kiwis are locally grown in the Northern US 
