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Natural and Unnatural Monoplies
NMB, Florida September 7, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
NATURAL AND UNNATURAL MONOPOLIES
The Myth of the Small Business
I suppose that the energy used in the break up of Ma Bell by government
forces in the struggle against the evil of big-ness could not be resurrected
in the battle against the Prime Satan, Steve Gates of Microsoft. Microsoft
may be made to soften somewhat but it will be left alone.
If you were raised, as I was, the semi-Socialist ideas of the late 19th
Century Populists still motivated government policy. This was to protect
the small business and, as the iconoclasts of old, to do battle with
monopolies, trusts and international cartels. It was a glorious and
honorable war that was lost. Small businesses have continued to be swallowed
up by the BIG guys while the big guys have gotten BIGGER.
But this is not necessarily a bad thing. There are such things as natural
monopolies. I wonder why this fact has been overlooked? Regulators thirst
for battles that have little merit in protecting us little guys.
I believe that the following are natural monopolies and big companies in
service to the public should provide the services without competition.
FIRST: Water - fresh, clean and plentiful.
SECOND: Electricity - cheap and reliable.
THIRD: Communication - Every person when born is given a social security
number that becomes his/her telephone number. One company gives direct,
inexpensive wireless service instead of confusing competition.
FOURTH: Information Media - Like the BBC there should be one authoritative
source of information free of the specter of COMMERCIALS. The chief news
service will be differentiated from the opinion pages by several pages and
in television and radio at different times.
FIFTH: Transportation - Bring back trains and turn them into quiet
monorails that go everywhere. Where there are no trains let there be buses
and jitneys that go even further. AIRLINES - Cheap and bigger seats all next
to windows with first class for all.
I also believe that there are unnatural monopolies. Just a few examples
will explain what I mean. I think that the owners of huge tobacco companies
should not also own and produce my breakfast cereal. I believe that oil
companies should not be in the business of cosmetics. These are unnatural
and only came about because of the propensity of HUGE businesses to swallow
up small businesses. What do you think?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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