Re:FTC Says AT&T Has Misled Millions of Consumers with ‘Unli...
by rlpb on Tuesday October 28, 2014 @04:13PM
(#8523284)
I'm saying that the argument that we're observing capitalism at work is false.
> Is monopoly in general a failure? Or is it AT&T in this particular instance?
Monopoly is in general a market failure (which is why antitrust laws exist). Therefore AT&T having the position it does (not a monopoly, but an oligopoly at best) is a market failure.
> Is regulation the opposite of what capitalist economies should have?
My understanding is that capitalism (in the sense that the great-grandparent post was using it) is something that involves not having regulation. Since AT&T's position is a consequence of this regulation, the assertion that we're observing capitalism (in the sense I think the great-grandparent used the term) is false.
> Is monopoly in general a failure? Or is it AT&T in this particular instance?
Monopoly is in general a market failure (which is why antitrust laws exist). Therefore AT&T having the position it does (not a monopoly, but an oligopoly at best) is a market failure.
> Is regulation the opposite of what capitalist economies should have?
My understanding is that capitalism (in the sense that the great-grandparent post was using it) is something that involves not having regulation. Since AT&T's position is a consequence of this regulation, the assertion that we're observing capitalism (in the sense I think the great-grandparent used the term) is false.