Antitrust is all the rage. Monopolies and mergers emerge as major issues in the Democratic primaries

[DonViejo]

By James Hohmann April 1 at 10:25 AM

With Joanie Greve and Mariana Alfaro

THE BIG IDEA:

STORM LAKE, Iowa — If the newest Democratic purity test sounds retro, it’s because it is.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) quotes William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech as she channels the prairie populism that catapulted him to the Democratic nomination in 1896. “Like Bryan, I will fight for farmers,” she promises.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) calls for a modern-day Granger movement, the coalition of Midwestern farmers that formed after the Civil War to challenge hefty fees being charged by monopolistic railroads to transport their grain to market.

“Literally this movement started when farmers were out there with their pitchforks … and that's what we need to see today,” Klobuchar told hundreds of farmers during a forum here in rural northwestern Iowa on Saturday afternoon. “Our railroads … are down to four, the same number as on the Monopoly board. We are entering what is essentially a new Gilded Age, and we need to take on the power of these monopolies. We're getting to the point where you know you're not going to be able to get a fair deal.”

This riff drew the loudest cheers of the day during the Heartland Forum. Klobuchar was one of four Democratic presidential candidates, plus Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who fielded questions about issues facing rural America. About 150 farmers gathered for a separate rally earlier in the day to agitate for legislation that would put a moratorium on corporate mergers.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2019/04/01/daily-202-antitrust-is-all-the-rage-monopolies-and-mergers-emerge-as-major-issues-in-the-democratic-primaries/5ca166921b326b0f7f38f2cf/

[vlyons]

1. Yes indeed

Reagan led the way, when he stopped enforcing our anti-trust laws and when he showed the ReThugs how to bust unions. It's been going on for decades. We need to put some sharp teeth in our anti-trust laws. I'd like to see it applied to our media empires. They should not be allowed to own television stations, and radio stations, and cable networks, and film studios, and newspapers. Break them up!

[DBoon]

2. about time

Monopolies have been allowed to flourish in too many areas

[Firestorm49]

3. Three cheers to Amy. ..........though I'm still undecided.