The Real Monopolies Are Google and Facebook

I don't agree with the author's argument. It's an over-simplified view of the forces that have caused the Internet in general and Google/Facebook specifically to grow to wield such enormous influence.

That said, this perception - that Silicon Valley is no longer a force of good and must be regulated - will come to dominate technology policy discussion for years to come. If Silicon Valley "loses" this debate, and is seen not as an engine of growth and a force of positive change across myriad industries, the impact will materially change this industry and the lives of those who read HN.

Some of the forces in the other direction: Large-scale investment (and hopefully wins) in life sciences, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure. Businesses that share their financial success more broadly. Empathy. Increasingly global or at least non-SV concentrated businesses. More diverse leadership. Less of an ego-centric view of the technology universe.

I am not disputing that those companies are monopolies by reasonable definitions. But they are not trying to merge with other companies right now to create new monopolies, so this is a false choice. We aren't ignoring them to do this, the senate is doing their job by reviewing this merger. Let someone sue those companies like they did to Microsoft in the 90s.