>True free markets wouldn't allow a business to become that powerful.
There's no proof of that
The proof is in the fact that a free market wouldn't allow for government manipulation, or else it would no longer be a free market, by definition. Same thing about monopolistic practices. Between those two things, present day corps become as powerful as governments.
I don't see how a free market is a guarantee against monopolies
If it's my property it's mine, if I bought the entire country it's mine
You talk about governments as if they were above multinationals and as if they weren't run by people
That's a funny thing
To say I put governments above multinationals is super dishonest, considering I pointed out corporations become more powerful than governments. They can only get to the point with the support of governments though. Who do you think is giving them the power and resources to do what they do? Corporate formed oligarchies don't exist unless governments allow for them.
Also, when did I suggest the multinationals aren't run by people? I don't understand that comment.
Circling back, markets are only free when there aren't extensive barriers to market entry and when individuals can't be artificially prevented from competing because of governments OR corporations having the power to prevent that competition. Monopolies, and lobbying are just two, very prevalent, examples of how that can happen. Another, often ignored, example is corporate executives and owners (substantial share holders) moving back and forth to high ranking, appointed government positions. They use those positions to manipulate law and policy to give unfair competitive advantage, subsidies, and bloated government contracts, to their corporations. Blatant corruption.
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