| FREE-ENTERPRISE, MONOPOLIES AND TRUSTS Now, the shape of this strife, to a thinking-man's eyes, Does follow the furrows of our free-enterprise, Where each business is owned by each person as his, To decide what to make and then what the price is. Who then tries to compete in the free marketplace For a customer's cash -- hence they often do race To make the best goods and to reduce what they charge To sell by the truckload and watch profits grow large. While the price to be paid for a service or good Depends on its value as it's thus understood: How much is it wanted? And how much is on hand? The law, simply put, of supply and demand. Yes, goods will cost less when the buyers are few Or when there's too much around to know what to do. Ah, but if rare is the thing or else widely sought, The value climbs higher and it'll sell for a lot! Yet hazards, however, became plain to see With the new beast of this age: the monopoly. Where one single owner or a trust of a few Controlled the supply within a market venue. Who then set their prices as high as they pleased -- With a grip on consumers like a fruit being squeezed. Whilst any newcomer who might dare to compete Faced the wrath of the trusts and the stomp of their feet. Hence the law must decide, and all folks must dwell: What rules for Big Business and for unions as well? Since long strikes and large trusts can near strangle the land, The laws called anti-trust are enacted to stand In the path of tycoons -- who, of course, prove defiant To keep their grips firm and their companies giant. Thus, the role of the state and what laws it declares Are forever at issue in those corporate affairs... |
| Worksheet # 85 |
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