[Pov]

[ QUOTE ]
""Unregulated monopolies like utilities excepted?" In the US? They're heavily (and illogically) regulated,"

I think it would be difficult to argue that an unregulated monopoly would never screw it's customers.

Please continue on the illogic of utility regulation. I'm interested in hearing a case for total deregulation.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's actually really easy since unregulated monopolies don't exist long enough to do it. They will try to screw the customer as fast as they can and then they won't be a monopoly anymore. Someone else will move in. Even if they don't screw their customers someone will probably move in. 100 years ago there weren't enough large sources of capital for this to happen, but it's a virtual certainty now. The only thing that prevents it is regulation.

Regulation does not serve the consumer in the long run though it may reduce short term variance at the expense of overall expectation. A totally free market will always balance itself. SE's complaining is part of this free market process. The Internet is a beautiful thing partially because it is so easy for new businesses to enter the market. If the sites move their rake too high then people will leave and new sites will take over. If the companies go out of business with the lower rake then the higher rake will stay and we'll have to get used to it. Some marginal winners will stop playing, shrinking the market and only the better run sites will remain. Someone will have a better idea of how to do something and they'll take over while someone else fades away. That's capitalism.