Will The Oligarchs Win Again? ( AT&T to buy DirecTV)

In 1949 the Justice Department files an antitrust suit against AT&T (then the Bell system). That suit resulted in a consent decree. That decree limited the company to running the national network. 1974 brought another suit which, in 1984 caused the divestiture of the regional Bell companies. AT&T then bought computer maker NCR followed by McCaw Cellular and TCI Cable Co. By 1999 they were back in the local telephone business and in 2000 with the acquisition of MediaOne became the largest US Cable Company. Finally AT&T merges with SBC to become a premier communications company.

I'm telling you all this because AT&T wants to be bigger and better yet with the proposed acquisition of satellite tv company DirecTV, a move very similar to those earlier moves that caused the original breakup of the Bell System. I wonder if we still care whether one or two companies have control of the entire communication infrastructure? When I was young, we had compelling evidence that the giant corporations were out to make a buck no matter who it hurt. The US Government, as a method of protecting consumers, broke up large monopolies and forbade monopolistic mergers and acquisitions. Now days we let corporations buy each other no matter what it does for consumers. Heck, we even let them buy Senators and Congressmen by the bucket full.

Perhaps that's why current law allows these acquisitions? Generations of bought politicians have weakened the law and damped our resolve. Maybe we have lost our ability to give a dam?