I’ve had in my mind a political cartoon; two panels:
The first panel is The Free Market Ideal. Dozens of carts and woodend stands selling fresh fruit, food, hand made goods, etc. There’s lots of energetic people moving about and talking and haggling with merchants over prices and comparing prices and looking at all their choices.
The second panel is The Free Market Reality. A bunch of tired people standing in line for one of two computer terminals.
The truths portrayed is that there is no bargaining with the monopolies that dominate our markets, their processes are automated. This is not a market of equals, the people are tired and manipulated. As for choice, sometimes you can choose between 2 or 3 companies, sometimes there’s only 1 option.
The things that happen in a healthy free market are not happening.
