Could the problem with energy be that there is no competitiveness?

[ck4829]

We hear "Free Market" all the time, but what do we see?

A small number of huge oil corporations controlling the supply

Subsidies for oil companies, but removing of tax breaks for alternative energy

Those huge oil corporations I mentioned earlier, are not competing with each other, but are sharing memos and notes with each other.

They say "Free Market", but a free market requires competition, which seems to be non-existent during this energy crisis.

Before Democrats agree to anything, the following things should be considered:

Smaller "wildcat" energy companies should receive the same subsidies that the huge oil companies are getting

Make tax breaks for alternative sources of energy a must

[Speck Tater]

1. The huge oil companies control about 9% of world oil.

The rest is nationalized by various governments.

The truth is, the "huge" oil companies, while huge in the absolute sense of companies in general, are so tiny in the global oil sense that they have no control whatsoever over prices.

[tridim]

2. The problem is the oil companies have been Enronized..

With the specific goal of stealing our money.

[baldguy]

3. The Free Market only applies to the bottom 90%

The top 10% live in a socialist paradise of govt subsidies.

[anonymous171]

4. Kind of like how the all our media is owned by about 6 companies?

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Competitiveness is not the real problem. You have to understand...

big corporations and how they operate. The reality is that they move at a snails pace. And I mean snails pace.
Personal situation...My partner and I developed a new way of doing something (don't want to get into specifics) in the wind industry. A multi- billion dollar company wants to get into that industry and they want our design over the one they developed. The problem is who handles what, which division will pay the development cost, which design of each component will they use, etc., etc., etc.. And it goes on and on. Me? I just have to sit tight and be patient. Not my greatest attribute.
Once they get into the industry there will be one more provider. Problem is we may all be riding bicycles by then.

[The2ndWheel]

6. Competition wastes energy

Diversity wastes energy. It would be much more efficient if there was a single corporation/state running the whole thing.

On the other hand, it wastes a lot of energy trying to maintain the power of consolidation from competitors.

Either way, we have a problem. We can't win.