Monopolies, Utilities, and the Cage We Live In

A Wednesday dialogue with Beth, exploring how the systems that run our lives look like capitalism—but feel like control.

You cut the cord, but the price stayed.
Streaming was supposed to set us free—but Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo all cost the same and trace back to the same source: legacy cable.

Is it really competition, or just branding?
👉 Read the full breakdown in today’s post: Monopolies, Utilities, and the Cage We Live In

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Miles:

We’re told we live in a capitalist society. But if that’s true, why does it feel like every essential—energy, internet, food—is controlled by a handful of corporations? Why is it so hard to break free?

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Beth:

That’s the core question, Miles. What we call “capitalism” today often isn’t about open markets or fierce competition. It’s about consolidated power, shielded by regulations, backed by government, and tied into global systems that resist change.

In sector after sector, we see uniform prices, high barriers to entry, and innovation that serves corporate profits over consumer freedom. Let’s unpack the examples you’re noticing.

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🎮 Cutting the Cord Didn’t Free Us

Miles:

I remember when live TV streaming felt like a revolution. Hulu Live, YouTube TV, Sling—they all had different prices and seemed cheaper. But now? The big ones like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are both around $83 a month. Fubo starts even higher when you add fees. Why did that happen? Wasn’t streaming supposed to be the alternative to bloated cable bills?

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Beth:

It was supposed to—but the revolution got co-opted. All these services rely on the same content giants: Disney, Warner Bros., Comcast, and a few others. These companies charge steep licensing fees for must-have channels, and those costs are now standardized across platforms.

Add Wall Street’s pressure for higher profits, and here’s what happened:

• Prices crept up in lockstep.
• No service dared undercut the others.
• The “cord-cutting” dream became a cord-shifting mirage.

You got a new app. But you’re still in their cage.

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⚡ Regulated to Enrich, Not Empower

Miles:

In some states, if I want to install solar panels, the rules feel stacked against homeowners. It seems like I can’t just use that energy myself easily. Regulations often require connecting to the utility, and the way they credit you for excess power sent to the grid seems designed to benefit them, not necessarily me. How is that fair? Isn’t the whole point of solar energy to be more self-reliant?

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Beth:

Exactly—and what you’re highlighting often stems from a battle over energy policy, sometimes resulting in ‘regulatory capture.’ Utilities, whose business model relies on centralized generation and distribution, often lobby for rules that integrate home solar in ways that preserve their system—and profits. They don’t want solar to make you fully independent; they want it to feed their infrastructure, which earns them guaranteed returns approved by public utility commissions.

So, depending on the state, they might push for policies that:

• Mandate grid connection for incentives or practical operation.
• Set compensation for the excess power you send to the grid at lower rates (like wholesale or ‘avoided cost’) rather than the full retail rate you pay.
• Add fixed charges or fees for solar customers.

It’s framed around grid stability or fairness to non-solar customers, but the effect is often preserving the utility’s profit model, even when technology allows for more decentralization.

You’re allowed to go green.

In many places, you’re incentivized not to go truly independent.

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🧴 The Cage of One-Way Pricing

Miles:

Every time there’s a crisis—hurricane in the Gulf, bird flu, tariffs—prices shoot up. But when the crisis ends, prices stay high. Why don’t companies lower prices to win customers?

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Beth:

That’s one-way pricing, and it’s a hallmark of concentrated markets. Companies use crises as cover to raise prices, but they rarely lower them afterward.

Look at these examples:

• Hurricanes: Gas prices spiked after Hurricane Ida (2021), and oil giants like Exxon posted $19.7B in Q3 2022 profits.
• Bird Flu: Egg prices tripled in 2022 (from $2 to $6/dozen), yet stayed high into 2023 despite restocked shelves.
• Tariffs: Trump’s 2018 tariffs raised steel and electronics prices, and many stayed elevated after tariffs eased.

Why don’t companies compete on price? They wait each other out. In concentrated markets, everyone knows that cutting prices could spark a race to the bottom. So they don’t. It’s not always illegal collusion—just coordinated silence.

You can switch brands. But you can’t escape the system.

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🌍 Capitalism in Name Only

Miles:

So, is this still capitalism? Or has it become something else—something controlled? And why the panic every time there’s a trade war or global disruption? Are they scared of chaos, or of losing their grip?

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Beth:

You’re onto something, Miles. What we have isn’t pure capitalism—it’s corporate-shaped capitalism, propped up by regulations and global trade agreements. Think of the WTO or USMCA: they set rules that let corporations control supply chains, labor costs, and even patents across borders.

Trade wars, like the U.S.-China tariffs, threaten this setup. They force companies to rethink supply chains or face higher costs, which cuts into their ability to dictate terms. The panic isn’t just about economics—it’s about losing control of the board.

Take pharmaceuticals: WTO patent rules let companies like Pfizer keep drug prices high globally. A trade war could disrupt that, letting generics enter markets. That’s why the system fights to stay intact.

It’s called capitalism. But it’s a curated economy, built to concentrate power.

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📟 Summary: The Rules of the Cage

In energy, food, internet, and TV, we’re sold the idea of a free market. But here’s the reality:

• Innovation is fine—unless it threatens the system.
• Regulation protects profits, not consumers.
• Disruption is absorbed to keep the powerful in charge.

You can “cut the cord,” “go green,” or “shop around”—but you’re still playing their game, where a few giants set the rules, and we all adapt.

They didn’t just win the market. They rewrote the rules, rigged the game, and locked the gate.

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Miles:

So, what’s next? How do we push back—or at least loosen the bars of this cage?

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Beth:

That’s the big question, Miles. It starts with awareness—knowing the game we’re in. Then it’s about small acts: supporting local producers, advocating for antitrust laws, or even exploring decentralized tech like off-grid solar where possible.

For now, let’s ask readers: What’s one way you’ve felt trapped by this system, and how are you fighting back? Share in the comments, and we’ll dive into your stories in Saturday’s reflection.