AT&T’s merger is a very bad sign for the US economy

[nicoleivy5]

AT&T’s merger is a very bad sign for the US economy - full article

"But beyond the specific questions raised by the deal itself, the proposed merger points to a broader issue: The U.S. economy is increasingly dominated by big companies. That trend worries a growing number of economists, who fear it suggests an economy that is becoming less dynamic and competitive over time."

Thoughts? Is it bad for the economy?

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

AT&T’s merger is a very bad sign for the US economy - full article

"But beyond the specific questions raised by the deal itself, the proposed merger points to a broader issue: The U.S. economy is increasingly dominated by big companies. That trend worries a growing number of economists, who fear it suggests an economy that is becoming less dynamic and competitive over time."

Thoughts? Is it bad for the economy?

I see no problem given that ATT and Time have no overlap. Mergers and acquisitions are going on all the time, not allowed to interfere with competition, and are necessary to be dynamic and competitive .

 

[Onyx]

Americans should reject corporate empires and support independent companies.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

Americans should reject corporate empires and support independent companies.

ATT is an independent company-right??

 

[Onyx]

ATT is an independent company-right??

No.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

ATT is an independent company-right??

No.

how so??????????????

 

[Onyx]

how so??????????????

You name it.

Their associations with the government, the fact that they are greatly divided up among rich shareholders, and that their economic success does not sell itself.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

how so??????????????

You name it.

Their associations with the government, the fact that they are greatly divided up among rich shareholders, and that their economic success does not sell itself.

1) liberals heavily regulate ATT and most companies, so????????
2) it is owned by little old ladies through their mutual funds
3) does not sell itself??? what does that mean??????

your corporate empire and independent company distinction is absurd and goofy and has no real world application. Are you a Nazi who wants to take over the govt and make corporate empires like At&T illegal. I"m sure that would improve our phone service!!

 

[Onyx]

Are you a Nazi who wants to take over the govt and make corporate empires like At&T illegal.

Nope.

I want members of society to exercise their powers as consumers, and reject subordinate companies like AT&T.

 

[EdwardBaiamonte]

Are you a Nazi who wants to take over the govt and make corporate empires like At&T illegal.

Nope.

I want members of society to exercise their powers as consumers, and reject subordinate companies like AT&T.

subordinate?? how is ATT subordinate????

 

[Jomama]

Who does the OP get his phone and internet service from; Hank's Live Bait and Phone Co?

 

[Anathema]

Americans should reject corporate empires and support independent companies.

Try that with your electricity.

 

[WheelieAddict]

Americans should reject corporate empires and support independent companies.

Try that with your electricity.

Cheapest electric rates I ever had were with a small town municipal electric company.

 

[HenryBHough]

The fewer the companies the easier it will be for a Democrat president to nationalie them.

See why The Democrat Party will NOT oppose this or any merger?

 

[Anathema]

Cheapest electric rates I ever had were with a small town municipal electric company.

True, but very few of those places still exist. There are 351 cities/towns in Massachusetts. The vast majority are served by one of two electric companies. Only roughly 50 municipalities (all small ones) have local electric utility providers.

 

[WheelieAddict]

Cheapest electric rates I ever had were with a small town municipal electric company.

True, but very few of those places still exist. There are 351 cities/towns in Massachusetts. The vast majority are served by one of two electric companies. Only roughly 50 municipalities (all small ones) have local electric utility providers.

So you agree mergers and large companies can lead to higher rates, and that small local companies that report to town residents instead of international shareholders that simply want profits and care nothing for the locality can be better?

 

[Anathema]

So you agree mergers and large companies can lead to higher rates, and that small local companies that report to town residents instead of international shareholders that simply want profits and care nothing for the locality can be better?

They can lead to higher prices. They also lead to far greater reliability and maintenance than small companies.

 

[WheelieAddict]

So you agree mergers and large companies can lead to higher rates, and that small local companies that report to town residents instead of international shareholders that simply want profits and care nothing for the locality can be better?

They can lead to higher prices. They also lead to far greater reliability and maintenance than small companies.

Well this can be true of any poorly run company. Problem is is large companies that run as virtual monopolies are much harder to get rid of when they perform badly. See Comcast.

 

[anotherlife]

So you agree mergers and large companies can lead to higher rates, and that small local companies that report to town residents instead of international shareholders that simply want profits and care nothing for the locality can be better?

They can lead to higher prices. They also lead to far greater reliability and maintenance than small companies.

Well this can be true of any poorly run company. Problem is is large companies that run as virtual monopolies are much harder to get rid of when they perform badly. See Comcast.

Comcast hassles you less on your bills than AT&T.

This attracts more customers to Comcast.

 

[anotherlife]

If Standard Oil had known that this is the future, then it would just have kept the government in litigation for 200 years before its breakup.