Senkusha
Astronaut
Posts: 264
Likes: 283
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Post by Senkusha on Jan 27, 2024 7:25:44 GMT -5
I may have jumped "timelines", but I thought, as I was educated in public school, that the idea of one company controlling all the options for a consumer, ie, no competition, ie a monopoly is illegal in the United States of America. I just saw somebody on Threads complaining about their electricity bill in New York City at being $1,300 for their current billing cycle. New York City only has ONE electric COMPANY. That's the definition of a monopoly, right?
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safeinsanity
Astronaut
Ooh, hello there!
Posts: 294
Likes: 385
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Post by safeinsanity on Jan 28, 2024 18:51:42 GMT -5
Yes, but they do it everywhere in this country.
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Senkusha
Astronaut
Posts: 264
Likes: 283
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Post by Senkusha on Jan 29, 2024 7:54:17 GMT -5
After a little more research, it appears that during (one of the Bush's) presidencies that a bunch of deregulation was passed, and just like it's now legal for propaganda, monopolies are legal too.
I really need to start a business making torches and pitchforks...
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Post by calamity on Jan 30, 2024 1:14:07 GMT -5
The crazy thing about utilities, especially cable; is that the government pays companies to build the infrastructure but must give access to other companies, yet they keep the money or build and still block access.
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Post by lainee on Jan 31, 2024 16:45:18 GMT -5
Yep, pretty sure it's illegal, and, as safeinsanity so aptly puts it...it does happen.
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Post by demonskeith on Feb 1, 2024 2:19:12 GMT -5
Not exactly cheap to build your own power company to rival another or get your services in place of theirs, can't really avoid a monopoly on that.
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Post by Steve on Feb 1, 2024 11:12:33 GMT -5
The biggest monopoly in my town was the cable tv/internet company. It currently costs me $280 a month for them. But a couple of years ago a fiber-optic cable company laid lines throughout the town and I called a rep. For everything I get from cable, it's going to cost me a hundred dollars less.
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Post by lainee on Feb 1, 2024 20:04:25 GMT -5
The biggest monopoly in my town was the cable tv/internet company. It currently costs me $280 a month for them. But a couple of years ago a fiber-optic cable company laid lines throughout the town and I called a rep. For everything I get from cable, it's going to cost me a hundred dollars less. Yep, mine's about the same, Steve !
I've called them a few times, over the years....it's about time I called them again
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Post by ZandraJoi on Feb 2, 2024 20:43:35 GMT -5
It shouldn't happen but it does all the time. Even our computers. We have Apple or Microsoft. But they make it if you want something, you have to just take what you get or you go without. I didn't know that monopolies & propaganda is now legal. We have one energy company here but there's another one in MI (maybe more?) but their lines don't run in our area. Cable. Speaking of that. They just clear cut a big area by the road earlier this month & only a couple of days ago did I get the answer. It's for Charter Spectrum line. I had 2 different answers before that. First was, We didn't authorize anybody to cut those trees! SMH! So, going from a different take. We didn't ask for Charter to come here. Don't know if it was on a ballot in our township. They said they don't have to tell the homeowner. Remember, we live rural, in the woods. There were a lot of little trees & they don't sharpen the blades. It is a stinkin' mess. Can you tell I'm still a bit peeved lol Plus side, the Cable we have is not the greatest & before that we didn't have anything other than Satellite TV. The main thing is, I wish there would be transparency in corporations.
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Post by lainee on Feb 2, 2024 21:45:37 GMT -5
It shouldn't happen but it does all the time. Even our computers. We have Apple or Microsoft. But they make it if you want something, you have to just take what you get or you go without. I didn't know that monopolies & propaganda is now legal. We have one energy company here but there's another one in MI (maybe more?) but their lines don't run in our area. Cable. Speaking of that. They just clear cut a big area by the road earlier this month & only a couple of days ago did I get the answer. It's for Charter Spectrum line. I had 2 different answers before that. First was, We didn't authorize anybody to cut those trees! SMH! So, going from a different take. We didn't ask for Charter to come here. Don't know if it was on a ballot in our township. They said they don't have to tell the homeowner. Remember, we live rural, in the woods. There were a lot of little trees & they don't sharpen the blades. It is a stinkin' mess. Can you tell I'm still a bit peeved lol Plus side, the Cable we have is not the greatest & before that we didn't have anything other than Satellite TV. The main thing is, I wish there would be transparency in corporations. You make some really good points here, ZandraJoi! Seems like they could've given you notice ahead of time and lots more information!
You're peeved?! Nah, couldn't tell
(but, hey...can't blame ya!)
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Post by ZandraJoi on Feb 6, 2024 20:46:26 GMT -5
You make some really good points here, ZandraJoi ! Seems like they could've given you notice ahead of time and lots more information! You're peeved?! Nah, couldn't tell (but, hey...can't blame ya!)
Thank you!
Glad I hid my peeved well
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Post by radlounger on Feb 8, 2024 11:32:52 GMT -5
General Law of Capital Accumulation; this is the logical endpoint of the western economic systems. While anti-monopoly laws formally exist, they are largely for-show. Banks and monopolies are in control the economy, the government pretends it does but is largely just a shell company of the former. Just about all problems stem from this issue, IMO.
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Post by Bob on Feb 10, 2024 18:03:51 GMT -5
Yeah, they go too far. Microsoft isn't really a monopoly because if you don't like it, you can go to Apple. Or like Consumer's Power. Or DTE. Have to stick with them. No matter what.
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