The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with keeping businesses from running roughshod over consumers and our economy. At its core, monopolistic and antitrust activities and deceptive and fraudulent practices are investigated and actions taken to curb them. The Biden administration clearly benefits from having big business behind it but the woke left is not so keen on having these behemoth companies hold more power than them so enter the crusader, Lina Khan.
Now that they have the prize (total control of the Federal government), the left no longer has to play nice with big business. The FTC is made up of five Commissioners and with the current one opening, the President (or more likely, whoever is propping him up), has nominated 35-year-old Colombia University Professor, Lina Khan for the open spot. The Professor is an avowed anti-big business advocate with a large compendium conveying her strong feelings about the concentration of power in big enterprises. She has stated current thinking favors corporate efficiency over competitive structure and that this is a short-sited approach. Rather, barriers to competition are being erected and strengthened with long term negative impacts. AMEN TO THAT!
So, while everyone likes a deal, that deal comes with strings. Yes, the big box store has pricing power and can buy in bulk passing those savings along to you …if they choose. The Mom-and-Pop store may not have that same luxury so when the big box store runs their “specials” that undercuts and eventually kills the Mom-and-Pop store, why would they run those specials again? With no competition, it’s not necessary and thus, the long-term negative impact.
Buy American mad products from your local store. If you must pay more at least the sales tax goes to your local governments and the jobs that store maintains pays people in your neck of the woods. We will all be better for it in the long run and on that, both the left and right can agree.
Current Day Publius 