Is Bill Maher Right About the Free Market?

With Bill Maher, you never quite know where the subtle truth (his idea thereof) begins and comedy intersects for the act. Nevertheless, judging by the repeated applause that interrupted his closing monaloge about the dimishing choice of competitive businesses in America, he may have either struck a deep seated nerve or simply constructed a home run comedy closing.

Of course the late night comedian's liberal bent is well known and long since understood by his audience. Nevertheless, simple truths know no political boundaries and Americans are obviously sensing a growing frustation by big business seemingly becoming more powerful than the government itself. 

At the very least, he claims, big government can no longer say no to many businesses whom they deem 'too big to fair.' "When is the last time the government said no to a merger," said Maher. 

"Americans need to realize that big business IS now the big government. "It is the massive unweildly. bureaucracy that just doesn't work."  Most American businesses," he said wryly, are "just too big to care." 

Poor service, uncaring employees and a simple dedication to the return to stockholders has become a hallmark of American business. While the right decries a lack of money for most social programs, no one has complained as the U.S. federal reserve has pumped almost $100 billion per month into the U.S. stock market since the financial crisis, making some corporations and stockholders extremely rich. 

So much so, according to Maher's implication, they simpy don't care about the customer. Hotels charge resort "fees," airlines now charge fees "for the priviledge of bringing along luggage" and why do they do it, he asked. "Just because they can." 

While the right has flooded business with money and opportunity, the resulting shift has put the entire system out of balance, Maher suggests. "That's the problem with the free market. It's not free and not much of a market.