Competition? What’s that?

Re “Hold the line,” editorial, Oct. 26

The editorial highlights a little noticed but very real problem: There isn’t very much competition anymore. Exxon/Mobil, Chevron/Texaco/Unocal, Verizon/MCI, etc. are rampant today. The “little” guys are not around anymore to help keep the “big” guys on their toes.

Whatever happened to the Clayton Act, the Sherman Antitrust Act and other anti-monopolistic legislation designed to keep obvious monopolies in check? As long as two or three companies in an industry have all the business, you can naturally expect prices to rise. A society that allows such mergers to keep happening shouldn’t be surprised at the incredible profits being reported by these mega-companies.

TOM REINBERGER

Glendora