Lisa Simpson's Presentation

The Question is how do Monopolies arise and what monopolies are present in the modern day.

The closest we get is to overregulate until smaller business go under due to the strain. That's one reason big business will push to regulate markets that they lead in.

I would say that we have a number of government enforced monopolies, specifically in the matters of utilities, the pharma industry, and through intellectual property. To me, it seems that most monopolies truly require the combined use of two of the three types of power, authoritative and economic; ie business and government

While I do think that vaccines, insulin, chemo, and prednisone are important, I do agree with you about there being a pharmaceutical monopoly, leading to these medicines becoming expensive.

Chemo works because it has cytotoxic properties, but they've advanced to become more targeted, which leads the patient to feeling ill less often than in the past.

And the utility monopolies wouldn't exist if the utilities were funded through taxes as they should have been, considering they've become a necessity.

I'm also disgusted by the whole "intellectual property" crap because ideas shouldn't be property. That's why Jonas Salk refused to patent his polio vaccines, and why medicines have no patents in Japan.

You also have to take into consideration that the people in charge of the companies pretty much have no clue how to make workplaces safer or improve the quality and safety of what they produce, only the workers do.

I would disagree about your position on utilities, as from my perspective, government regulation is what monopolizes that market. I could talk a lot more about pharma if you want.
And to me, one of the biggest things more personally in relation to intellectual property is online, especially in regards to youtube.

"You also have to take into consideration that the people in charge of the companies pretty much have no clue how to make workplaces safer or improve the quality and safety of what they produce, only the workers do."

Well generally speaking, on things like this, I view a simple solution being unions. I think that big labor can be a legitimate tool to balance big business; I think that people should be able to choose how and for what they work, doesn't mean that they get to have any job, but can work together against poor conditions.
Though I haven't been specifically been hearing about working condition problems relating to employers not knowing or not doing something about it, so if you have something you could say on that, it would be great if you could elaborate.

And unions are technically labor law insurance. You pay a little bit to contribute to their pool so when your boss steps out of line, the pool's there for the union to get you a lawyer.

And usually, what I mean about employers not knowing about the working conditions is that they don't work in the environments their employees do. Their working conditions are a lot better because they use the unequal power dynamic for their own gain.

"Unequal power dynamic"
Hmmm
Well again, I haven't seen any particular problems coming up around working conditions, so if you have something particular that you're talking about, do mention.

"And unions are technically labor law insurance. You pay a little bit to contribute to their pool so when your boss steps out of line, the pool's there for the union to get you a lawyer."

Good, as it should be. In contrast to this is my problem with public sector unions, you can't choose whether to be represented or not, and you are mandated by the force of government to pay. This is why I rather appreciated the recent supreme court ruling on public sector unions.

The power dynamic means that if the employee complains of unsafe conditions, or ends up hurt, the boss can force them to resume work or fire them. That's what I mean.

You have the life simulation monopoly in EA games, eyeglasses has become a monopoly, causing them to be expensive. Monopolies become so when one company either buys out the competition, or eliminates them through less legal means such as intimidation.

You also have the oil companies, who seek to fight green energy because it's a threat to their business.

I think the best action is try to encourage smaller businesses, so they'll be able to rival big ones.

So I'm Lenin because I support criminalizing monopolies?

No, just love taking the mic out of Stalin

Why not just let the employees take over the business and kick their bosses to the curb as well? Personally, I like that idea.

Well, taking over something without a proper backup plan for the future would just doom it all.