What I've found here in Australia is that the entire economy appears to be run by very few large corporations or concerns. Practically like in the movie Rollerball. A contraversial TV/radio commentator here, Alan Jones, has been quite on a tear lately that one of the reasons prices in Australia are so high is because of this lack of true competition.
This was brought home to your ex-pat Farmer Ted when I went into a Tandy store to buy a clock radio so I could actually get up on time for work. Now, all Americans know that Tandy is where you go to buy no-frills items at no-frills prices. So I was suprised to see a veritable stable of Dick Smith Electronics branded products available (Dick Smith is a huge retailer of electronics goods at huge prices). So I asked the clerk why there are so many Dick Smith products in the store. "Oh, Tandy is owned by Dick Smith. And Dick Smith is owned by Woolworths," he replied, adding, "it's all the same these days, mate."So trying to get away from Coles, Telstra, and Woolworths grip on competition in Australia is tantamount poking a stick at Satan. Like in The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror IV":
Bart: I'd sell my soul for a formula one racing car.[Satan Ned appears with a race car]
Ned: Heh heh heh, that can be arranged.
Bart: Changed my mind. Sorry.
[Ned vanishes] Cool!
Marge: Bart! Stop pestering Satan.
Just substitute "true marketplace competition" for "formula one racing car", and the CEO of Woolworths for Ned and you get what it seems like it would take here.
But sometimes the price is just too high.
- Farmer Ted
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