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From: tim@isrnix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: How to Argue with Libertarians
Message-ID: <269@isrnix.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Jul-83 09:45:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: isrnix.269
Posted: Fri Jul  8 09:45:06 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Jul-83 17:26:17 EDT
References: uwvax.962
Lines: 17

So the only way that monopolies arise is through "Big Gov't" intervention?
How about Standard Oil? This is just one of many industrial monopolies
which had nothing to do with gov't regulation or intervention.  Standard Oil
among others just outright took over the market!
There was a good reason for Gov't involvement in the Railroads just as
for building other highways-it allowed the railroads to use more efficient
routes by using the Gov't's power of eminent domain. Unfortunately that
was turned to a profit by many a Railroad magnate. However it would be
hard to argue that the effects of the railroads have been bad economically
any more than the effects of highways,airports, or canals sponsored by
the Gov't.  It seems that Libertarians remain stubbornly myopic to
the reality of monopoly power despite even Adam Smith's admonition
that "one seldom finds merchants gathered in the same spot without
an attempt at restraint of trade. " (this is not an exact quote, unfortunately
I don't have "Wealth of Nations" at home with me)
       Tim Sevener
       decvax!pur-ee!iuvax!isrnix!tim