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Fr. Kloster, it is even more than that, it is also the undue power given the large to become larger by getting into bed with government officials -- business success via lobbying influence. If a large firm can convince the government to impose, say, a blanket audit requirement costing all firms in its industry $25 million annually, then the firm's smaller competitors are disproportionately disadvantaged. From the beginning those firms lacked the ability to pay lobbyists, and lost out on the "Washington game." In this case influence, not superior product or service, wins. We lose. Who do you think most appreciated the tobacco-industry settlement? The biggest firms, now even larger, along with the government were the clear winners. In no was does the government truly want cigarettes to go away. They rake in far too much money. And the large firms are nearly totally insulated from competition. Oh, and they've passed along the cost of the settlement -- in total and then some -- to those of you who smoke. And Omny, I have no horse in the "right size" race. I simply know I do not want government -- directly or indirectly -- deciding. They lack the competence, and decide based on perverse reasoning ($$). - Nick Palmer