General Discussion

PSPS

(15,023 posts)

1. This is an important point

Sun Nov 6, 2022, 11:33 AM

Nov 2022

Back in the early 80's, when we had bad inflation, Reagan hadn't yet had the time to fully neuter the FTC and enforcement of anti-trust laws. So people still had a choice when they needed something. If a company decided to raise prices "because they can," there were plenty of competitors available to choose from. This kept "greedfflation" to a minimum.

Today, after 40 years of GOP obstruction and their systematic dismantling of federal regulations, we have massive consolidation/monopolization to the point where companies have a massive share of their chosen market. There is essentially no real competition so they are free to raise prices "because they can." People have no place else to go.

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It's the monopolization of America. [View all] milestogo Nov 2022 OP

This is an important point PSPS Nov 2022 #1

Robert Reich is once again Spot on. He is an American treasure. Hell he is Humanity's Treasure. nt Tommymac Nov 2022 #2

THIS!! SoCalDavidS Nov 2022 #3

RR nails it again. Excellent advocate & communicator, The Best. appalachiablue Nov 2022 #8

Oligarchs run everything. No competition in the marketplace. SharonAnn Nov 2022 #18

Turn the table on the cons Dirty Socialist Nov 2022 #4

Winners picking and choosing who the losers are is how they like it. czarjak Nov 2022 #37

Yup. Joinfortmill Nov 2022 #5

Corporatocracy is here to stay. NoMoreRepugs Nov 2022 #6

In his book Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith multigraincracker Nov 2022 #7

This is a huge issue BlueIdaho Nov 2022 #9

Don't do anything about monopolies.... AZSkiffyGeek Nov 2022 #11

Corporations are immortal FoxNewsSucks Nov 2022 #15

These are small potatoes. BlueIdaho Nov 2022 #16

Safeway is already owned by Albertsons AZSkiffyGeek Nov 2022 #21

I mentioned Safeways... BlueIdaho Nov 2022 #27

Bingo. We're just as guilty. paleotn Nov 2022 #14

So true! BlueIdaho Nov 2022 #22

I first heard about the dangers of monopolization when I was in fifth grade tavernier Nov 2022 #10

That acorn you saw as a kid now has roots that are tearing down your house. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2022 #24

Antitrust cases in America the last 30 years have been "window dressing" and nothing more. paleotn Nov 2022 #12

That's exactly the problem. FoxNewsSucks Nov 2022 #13

You know I don't like going to "Walmart.", but their prices are low. Stuart G Nov 2022 #17

Try Aldi's. Great quality and better proces. SharonAnn Nov 2022 #19

Monopoly is the stage of advanced capitalism. ancianita Nov 2022 #20

American Airlines, for example .. Bo Zarts Nov 2022 #23

Universal Healthcare would go a long way to reverse this by allowing the TeamProg Nov 2022 #25

and there's the underlying bullshit of unregulated capitalism - greed abrogates trust bringthePaine Nov 2022 #26

Maybe the core problem is campaign finance deregulation over many decades. NullTuples Nov 2022 #28

I like this posting republianmushroom Nov 2022 #29

I wish the people who are voting for Republicans because of inflation understood this. milestogo Nov 2022 #31

Kick dalton99a Nov 2022 #30

We broke up Ma Bell. ChazInAz Nov 2022 #32

Big food corporations have market share dominance. milestogo Nov 2022 #33

Two points NJCher Nov 2022 #34

People who live in smaller spaces and depend on transit LisaM Nov 2022 #42

a year's supply of cartridges NJCher Nov 2022 #46

We are back to the time of Robber Barons. Irish_Dem Nov 2022 #35

Whenever I drive across Texas or even British Columbia,Canada it's the same flying_wahini Nov 2022 #36

Will they ever stop? moondust Nov 2022 #38

I've been railing BigOleDummy Nov 2022 #39

This is fact. MLAA Nov 2022 #40

Which industries are Reich claiming as being controlled by monopolies? Just A Box Of Rain Nov 2022 #41

Which aren't? rubbersole Nov 2022 #43

I guess it is useless to ask again, which industries are monopolies according to Reich? Just A Box Of Rain Nov 2022 #45

It doesn't say in the tweet. milestogo Nov 2022 #47

Haven't found any. Just A Box Of Rain Nov 2022 #48

Snack today chips and Pepsi: $4.77. Each over $2. live love laugh Nov 2022 #44

Fairly sure Pepsi don't have a monopoly on unhealthful soda drinks. Just A Box Of Rain Nov 2022 #49

Pepsico is enormous. milestogo Nov 2022 #50

Yes, but enormous and monopolistic are not the same things in economic terms. Just A Box Of Rain Nov 2022 #51

Corporations have spent a century in finding ways to circumvent anti-trust laws. Xolodno Nov 2022 #52