Monopoly And Government

[Terri]

By Thomas Sowell
June 20, 2007

We in America have some of the most magnificent national parks in the world -- Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and many others.

Sadly, however, our government has turned over to private monopolies the operation of many of the services and accommodations available to visitors in our national parks.

For example, the same monopoly controls not only the lodgings but even tourist buses and taxi services on both the north rim and the south rim of the Grand Canyon. A different monopoly controls lodgings and other services at Yosemite.

Monopoly is bad news, whether in the private marketplace or in government. But it is easier for government bureaucrats to deal with a monopoly than with an ever-changing array of competing enterprises, such as are common in the private economy.

More