Anybody up for a random meme dump?

Ocho · Dec 5, 2023

Apparition said:
View attachment 479887

tortilla people!!!!

Rooscooter · Dec 5, 2023

srimes said:
Monopolies can and do arise in free markets, which makes the market less free. That's why antitrust action is important. This is another area where our government isn't doing it's job.

Monopolies rarely arise in a true free market. Typically in areas of emerging technologies. The "Robber Barons" of the 1880's to 1930's were a creation of government and regulation. My favorite part of the Standard Oil break up is that before that Rockefeller wasn't the richest man in the nation but after the government taught him a lesson in being a Monopoly his wealth grew 50X to around $800M in 1928 dollars.

Regulation is what creates monopolies because it protects them from competition. Exxon is one of the largest donors to Global Warming BS.... a huge one! Why? Because all of the stuff they have to do to pump, refine and transport oil they can afford.... a disruptive start up cannot. Thus protected from disruptive competition.

Right as I type this the oil companies are wanting to tack on to any bill in the House a regulation to severely limit micro nuclear reactors to "experimental use". One of these could supply power to 600 houses for 20 years on a single charge about the size of a six pack. Public utilities are scared to death of this technology as there would no longer be a "grid" in the way we are used to seeing one. They too, are joining in trying to regulate these to very limited use. I'm sure we'll see commercials soon scaring the public about this technology which has been around since the 1950's.