How we Enourage Monopolies and Why we Shouldn't

Nardyne Awad

HOW WE ENCOURAGE MONOPOLIES AND

WHY WE SHOULDN’T

WHAT IS A MONOPOLY? “A monopoly is a situation in which a single

company or group owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. By definition, monopoly is characterized by an absence of competition, which often results in high prices and inferior products” (What is, 2016).

EXAMPLES OF MONOPOLIES

How easily can you think of alternatives to these companies for similar products/services?

SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH MONOPOLIES ANYWAY?

• “The fact that a monopoly does not face the discipline of competition means that the monopoly may operate inefficiently without being corrected by the marketplace” (Amadeo K., 2015).

• “The tactics used to establish monopoly power, such as driving competitors out of business or thwarting potential entrants, can also cause considerable harm to households who own the businesses that are forced to close their doors” (Amadeo K., 2015).

• “Not only can monopolies raise prices, they can also supply inferior products. This has happened in some urban areas, where grocery stores know that the poor urban dweller has fewer alternatives” (Amadeo K., 2015).

In Short• There’s an inefficient distribution of resources• Monopolies tend to work against the public’s

wellness and to put profit as priority. • The inferior products provided by monopolies

with only profit in mind, may cause harm to the public and communities that are directly affected.

• Monopolies put small businesses out of business.• Small communities are more likely to be pushed

into expanding into larger cities.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT US• Inferior products may negatively affect

the public’s health.

• Creates a feeling of being “trapped” when it comes to prices and types of products

• Removes a sense of community and directly affects families with small businesses

PROFIT FIRST, WELLNESS AND MORALS LAST

• An example of inferior products may be the large industrial production of meat

• More than 99% of farm animals in the U.S. are raised in factory farms, many unable to even turn around in small cages (Valez-Mitchell J., 2015).

• Many of the monopolies in Canada are American hence directly affecting Canadians as well

PROFIT FIRST, WELLNESS AND MORALS LAST

• "Animal abuse is the norm in the meat industry," says Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection at the Humane Society.

 • Cows in the dairy industry can be given growth hormones in order to

increase their milk production. Once their productivity declines, these cows are slaughtered for beef. The six growth hormones commonly used by the U.S. dairy industry have been shown to significantly increase the risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer in beef consumers. Producers are not required to list the use of hormones on product labels (Velez-Mitchell J., 2014).

• Poor sanitation and waste management on factory farms and the poor management of animal waste can lead to the contamination of the food supply by bacteria like E.coli and salmonella. Each year 76 million Americans become ill from food borne illness, and thousands die(Velez-Mitchell J., 2014).

Check out this quick video on the Milking Industry

Please be advised that this video contains disturbing and graphic images and vulgar language:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcN7SGGoCNI

An Example: FAST FOOD • The public has a general understanding of what is

healthy and what is not. Most people are aware of the health risks that comes with fast food, and many restaurants assure us that they are selling healthy products, but is this the truth?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIByhK16TtY

Another Example: Clothing StoresWhen was the last time you asked about where

the clothes you’re purchasing came from?• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmeojs8E-UE Here’s an example close to home: GAP

STORES: • https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG_Vy3aUFu4

Let’s Ask More Questions: What am I really purchasing? • Morally incorrect products • Falsely advertised products • Products that affect the environment

negatively • Products that affect your health and

your family’s health negatively

Please be advised that this video contains disturbing and graphic images and vulgar language:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OedpoxrNH6M

HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE MONOPOLIES?

BY TURNING A BLIND EYE AND NOT ASKING QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE PRODUCTS WE NEED TO BUY.

WHAT CAN WE CHANGE? THE CONSUMER IS IN CONTROL!

• EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS• ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE• FOLLOW YOUR MORAL AND ETHICAL

CODE• SAY NO TO PROTECT YOURSELF• FOLLOW A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

REFUSE TO PURCHASE

INFERIORITY!!!

REFERENCESAmadeo K., (2015), Monopoly: 4 Reasons It’s Bad, and It’s

History, Retrieved on March 31st 2016, from, http://useconomy.about.com/od/glossary/g/monopoly.htm

DAIRY IS F**KING SCARY! The Industry Explained in 5 Minutes. Dir. Erinsotherstuff. Perf. Erin Janus. YouTube. YouTube, 27 Dec. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcN7SGGoCNI

Food For Thought: CHICKEN. Dir. Erinsotherstuff. Perf. Erin Janus. YouTube. YouTube, 31 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OedpoxrNH6M

NTDTV. "Fashion Industry Looking for Transparency." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 01 Apr. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG_Vy3aUFu4

REFERENCES CONT’

Studying the Effects of Fast Food. Dir. WTNH. YouTube. YouTube, 05 Nov. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIByhK16TtY

Velez-Mitchell J., (2014), Factory Meat, cruel and bad for us, CNN, Retrieved on March 31st 2016, from, http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/opinion/velez-mitchell-animal-cruelty/

What is a ‘Monopoly’, Investopedia (2016), Retrieved on March 30th 2016, from, http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/monopoly.asp