What has transpired between business and government in America was inevitable. It was not the voters who attempted to buy an advantage in the marketplace for businesses, it was the businesses themselves. From Railroad land grants to corporate welfare, it is business dollars that have paid for the lobbying. The problem is not competition, but the person who wishes to use government power to sidestep competition. A free market is no more appealing to the CEO of Exxon Mobil than it is to the average person, if there is an alternative that has a higher chance of getting him what he wants.
The out of control growth of government power was not taken by force, but handed over for security in one's position. Time after time, we will choose the umbrella of authority to protect us, rather than rely on our own abilities and talents. We all still want a free lunch, unfortunately, the free lunch we get is a lunch someone else paid for, but wasn't allowed to eat.
The Rev