re: Half of the UK is owned by 1%

quote:

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I'm all for capitalism, but wouldn't a total free market system put us back where we were as a country in the early 1900's?

With guys like standard oil and JP Morgan buying up everything, there would be no competition. I'm pretty sure Mexico is going through this problem right now. Or at least that's how my Mexican buddies feel.

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Antitrust.

Antitrust laws are vital to the continuance of capitalism. A key tenet to capitalism is fair and equal competition. A level playing field. When certain corporations get very large and monopolize an industry they can use their power and influence via the government, to push down competitors. This is crony capitalism. It's also part of the reason many free-market capitalist and Libertarians prefer a small government. When government is decentralized and weak, then there's no vehicle for monopolistic robber barons to wield power and lord over us.