Comment Re:Competition, now and then (Score 4, Insightful) 191
... created an effective duopoly, one that still persists today in many markets. In such a situation, the free market cannot function, and government regulation is required to prevent abuses.
This is the part that the Libertarian loudmouths ignore. There is no market. Their magical invisible hand that solves all problems just turns into a choking fist when you have too few competitors.
The only sane solutions are government owned pipes (think water/sewer) or highly regulated privately owned pipes (think electricity/gas).
I like my local city utility monopoly. I like my power and gas monopolies. I despise all two of my choices from the Net duopoly camp.
Every city knows they have to "do" sewer/water/trash. Every state knows they have to "do" power and gas - even if it's just to set up a framework for local co-ops. Wish some state was willing and able to "do" Internet and fight off the corporate douchebags. Maybe next generation...