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In 2001, we saw the case of the US vs Microsoft. Even though many other countries have constitutions and laws that often appear similar to ours, there's truly a big difference in our institutions that allows us to take the powerful to task at times. In this case, challenging monopoly power. And it's generally regarded as nonpartisan. It's unimaginable to me that this could happen in nearly any non-westernized countries. I don't see a Mexico vs Carlos Slim ever happening, nor the like in China, nor Russia, etc.

And although recently we saw this power dangled against political enemies, it wasn't actually used. And even if it was used, I think the rhetoric made it too toxic for our institutions. I also don't expect that it will be abused anytime soon.

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Are you saying that this apparent triumph or democracy (and the left) is not possible for other societies. I think not. But we are living through the Time of the Oligarchs. But even the Time of the Dinosaurs passed. Pray for a meteor?

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But was this action sufficient. Monopoly driven rent still seems to distort a competitive market system. Leads to inequality .... etc.

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