Free market rules? This could turn into Germany's greatest economic scandal

Skybird · 11-05-07, 08:35 PM

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...515449,00.html

Finally - finally - after years of suspicion and too obvious price manipualtions, the four main suppliers of electric energy in Germany have to face the cartel office ion serious, after 60.000 documents had been confiscated during police raids, and are currently still under examination. The four companies are accused of secretly forming a monopole with the taregt to keep new compettitors out of the market, and acchieve maximum price raisings by synchroniozing their according actions and policies. Everyone in Germany knows, that the many raises especially during the last 24 months, do not see justification by prices on world makret for energy ressources, and the suspicion that the cartel was manipulating the prices has been there since a long time. The rise of prices for heating and electricity have been extremely excessive in the past 12 months, and are not backed by the developement of prices for according ressouces on the global market.

Commentators agree that this could turn out to become the greatest economy scandal of Germany after WWII.

It also illustrates how easily the philosophy of "the free market regulates itself" betrays itself ands can accieve the opposite of what it claims to guraantee: monopoles, the prevention of competition, and forcing up of prices by keeping new competitors away by clever political and legal dodges.

Next cartel that needs to be destroyed is that of gas companies. It is hilariously obvious with which reliabiolity they are raising their prices every year before summer vacancies, easter vacancies, x-mas vacancies, and other critical marks in the calender, exploiting the lack of alternatives for car drivers (I do not even own a car), and always saying it is due to raised prices for oil - even when before the price had stagnated or even slighty fallen. If business of the oi,l companies would be raided like now the energy sompanies in Germany, i am sure you would find evidence for price manipulation, prevention of competition, and forming of cartels as well.

A thinking error often made: capitalism does not aim at having a free market. The intention is to prevent free market and competition and to form monopoles and cartels - because competitors force you to lower your profits, while monopoles allow you to raise your profits. You think I am wrong? then monitor yourself what you are doing next time you play Monopoly.

There are more scandals about cartel-building waiting to be revealed, for example in the food and meat sector, and concerning supermarket chains.

Cheers, Germany!

11-05-07, 08:35 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Free market rules? This could turn into Germany's greatest economic scandal http://www.spiegel.de/international/...515449,00.html Finally - *finally* - after years of suspicion and too obvious price manipualtions, the four main suppliers of electric energy in Germany have to face the cartel office ion serious, after 60.000 documents had been confiscated during police raids, and are currently still under examination. The four companies are accused of secretly forming a monopole with the taregt to keep new compettitors out of the market, and acchieve maximum price raisings by synchroniozing their according actions and policies. Everyone in Germany knows, that the many raises especially during the last 24 months, do not see justification by prices on world makret for energy ressources, and the suspicion that the cartel was manipulating the prices has been there since a long time. The rise of prices for heating and electricity have been extremely excessive in the past 12 months, and are not backed by the developement of prices for according ressouces on the global market. Commentators agree that this could turn out to become the greatest economy scandal of Germany after WWII. It also illustrates how easily the philosophy of "the free market regulates itself" betrays itself ands can accieve the opposite of what it claims to guraantee: monopoles, the prevention of competition, and forcing up of prices by keeping new competitors away by clever political and legal dodges. Next cartel that needs to be destroyed is that of gas companies. It is hilariously obvious with which reliabiolity they are raising their prices every year before summer vacancies, easter vacancies, x-mas vacancies, and other critical marks in the calender, exploiting the lack of alternatives for car drivers (I do not even own a car), and always saying it is due to raised prices for oil - even when before the price had stagnated or even slighty fallen. If business of the oi,l companies would be raided like now the energy sompanies in Germany, i am sure you would find evidence for price manipulation, prevention of competition, and forming of cartels as well. A thinking error often made: capitalism does not aim at having a free market. The intention is to prevent free market and competition and to form monopoles and cartels - because competitors force you to lower your profits, while monopoles allow you to raise your profits. You think I am wrong? then monitor yourself what you are doing next time you play Monopoly. There are more scandals about cartel-building waiting to be revealed, for example in the food and meat sector, and concerning supermarket chains. Cheers, Germany! __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.