Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinSE
The problem was/is a virtual monopoly with NO plan for what to do when the biggest producer (the virtual monopoly holder) had a problem. That problem has been around a long time, and was exaggerated by the previous administration. That the limitations put in place came back to haunt us in this administration is just what happens with out method of governing where we change sides every few years and undo everything possible that the other side did.
Once upon a time (in the GOOD OLD DAYS) monopolies were illegal and people got famous by taking them to court and taking them down. Then companies figured out they could buy the politicians and change the laws to help them become monopolies (the vast majority of baby formula is made by 2 companies and 45% is made by one - Abbot).
In so many critical product lines today virtual monopolies exist - a handful of mega companies control 80% of the food in the US, and on and on. We all know about Amazon, and WalMart, et al.
The government is in the pocket so to speak of these major international virtual monopolies. And if you believe they do not talk to each other to "fix prices and supplies" you are naive for sure.
Anyway. This whole thing was the product of decades of decisions and a predatory capitalism system that places profit above people. Just consider with Abbot producing 45% of all Baby Formula in the country, what do you think would happen if they shut down their biggest plant for a month or more. And yet, they were not required to have a plan, and so they didn't.
You can stop blaming administrations. People in government are trying to deal with a situation that should never have happened. And doing the best they can.
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Govt caused this by allowing these monopolies and oligopolies and should have done a better job stopping this before it reached this level.
Govt in way too many instances brings new meaning to incompetence.