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Re:Market Concentration Is Threatening the US Economy by 40acres on Wednesday March 13, 2019 @11:21AM (#19379534)
This is a side effect that I'm willing to deal with. The problem with monopoly is not so much about the concentration of individual wealth in my mind, it's about the lack of competition between companies which make investment in R&D and innovation less of a factor to success.

Rockefeller rightfully became more wealthy when he owned a large portion of stock in very successful, but highly competitive companies, as opposed to an unchallenged behemoth. It would be like splitting your stake in Walmart into equal shares of Amazon, Target and Dollar Tree.

Re:Market Concentration Is Threatening the US Economy by ameister14 on Wednesday March 13, 2019 @12:39PM (#19380450)
It's also interesting that when Rockefeller dominated the oil market and standardized it, the price of kerosene dropped dramatically. Rather than monopoly being negative for consumers, the competition had actually driven up prices and lowered quality standards as competitors sabotaged eachother
Re:Market Concentration Is Threatening the US Economy by gumby on Wednesday March 13, 2019 @05:00PM (#19383713)
I think that was a function of the phase of the S curve.

Also remember his tying: he controlled all the tankers so even if you competed with him in petroleum products he controlled your (literal) path to market.