In 1982, telephone monopoly "Ma Bell" (AT&T) was broken up into 7 independent telephone companies known as "Baby Bells". It didn't take too long before all these companies "congeal" back into larger entities.
Free Press has the visual guide on how Ma Bell was broken up and then came back together again: http://www.freepress.net/content/atthistory
To: Cayenne - how is three major companies and 9 smaller ones a monolpoly for any of them?
Coca Cola is a monopoly with that logic.
Oligopoly = a market form in which a market or industry is dominated by a small number of sellers.
Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Visa, MasterCard etc all represent oligopolies.
Let's be honest, capitalism is what it is and it is driven by the consumer. If the consumer chose to, it could collectively change the current model of capitalism, is some ways, this is being done, the consumer is starting to drive the market.
I was taught by a 12 year old girl not that long ago 'IF WE DON'T BUY IT, THEY CAN'T MAKE IT" and I've been trying to get that thought out to all that will listen.
We create the monopolies and oligopolies by not being conscious consumers.
Let's start doing something about this.
http://www.freepress.net/ownership/att_history.jpg
http://www.cheapgreencar.com
The Death Star is Back - Where's Hans and Luke?
Nobody asked me if I wanted to be owned by the Dark Force!?!