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To: Ilaine who wrote (102461)	5/15/2001 9:49:28 PM
From: yard_man	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

all well and good given the example, but in no way analogous to electric utilities or what economists generally term a competitive market -- just because one doesn't exist, does not necessarily mean that one can't develop as in your example. But just because one can develop doesn't mean it exists already ... and there are some industries where competition does not naturally develop -- or at least, if it does -- it would not be beneficial when considering the economic welfare of society in general, e.g. the duplication of facilities I referenced earlier until you recognize the difference between large public systems such as highways, national defense, as well as things "in between" these and your jeweler example you simply aren't going to understand the problem of market power -- market power for something like jewelery -- who cares -- don't have to have it to live and there are little barriers to entry into the market (it is difficult to retain market power) -- electric power is simply more complex you all take markets and "anti-regulation" as being better as almost a religious faith and ignore the reasons why economic structures evolved as they did -- it wasn't because of some diabolical plot to prevent customers from exercizing choice or getting the lowest price for the service. When you buy a kWh -- you must draw it from a grid which is connected to several generators -- it is a very large piece of property owned by a very large number of concerns. You can't or won't elect not to buy it if the price doesn't suit you -- it has become a basic need, not only for individuals, but for our economic system to function at all. Unless you recognize that it is not a commodity, or simply a product like the jewelry you will keep drawing all sorts of conclusions that are wrong based on reasoning that is too simple