Funadvice Logo

Does deregulation ever work?

Home More advice Politics & Law

Savings & Loans were deregulated in the 1980's and many went under costing taxpayers over $100 billion.

Airlines were deregulated which lead to airlines flying fewer routes, congested airports, most flights are late, and most of the major airlines near bankruptcy.

Our current mortgage industry problems were also fueled by deregulation.

Deregulating the media has allowed a smaller number of corporate entities to buy up our newspapers, and radio/tv stations so we have access to narrower and fewer viewpoints than we used to.

Deregulating energy allowed Enron to manipulate the supply of electricity in California and Texas leading to brownouts, higher prices and increased profits. Isn't the free market supposed to lead to lower prices? Where I live I used to be able to buy my electricity from one country; now there are a bunch of companies selling the same electricity and while they all promise the best deal changing companies never results in a smaller electricity bill.

I still hear people saying we should deregulate this or that. Is there any example of where deregulation actually worked to the benefit of consumers rather than to the benefit of corporations?