Encouraging Antitrust Ruling

There was an encouraging development out of the Justice Department today, as the antitrust division cleared the way for Whirlpool's acquisition of Maytag. What is even more remarkable is that new antitrust director Thomas Barnett ignored the concerns of staff lawyers to give the merger the OK. So, after five and a half years, has the Bush administration finally managed to get a guy at justice who can break away from the static, zero-sum mentality of economics and markets and actually place trust in consumers and freely operating markets? I hope this a portent of a more hands-off approach at the antitrust division of the DOJ. It is a shame that it has taken this long.

Bloomberg has the story.

I know what you're thinking..."but who will protect the little guy from the depredations of Whirlpool, which will control 70% of the market for washing machines?" Well, you will. You will protect yourself, by not paying more for a washing machine than you value it. And you will get help from innovators, entrepreneurs and savvy companies who will jump into the game to sell you a washing machine if Whirlpool becomes uncompetitive or somehow distasteful to do business with. I assure you, Whirlpoool will not keep their 70% market share by running roughshod over its customers.