The antitrust ruling against Google was the right decision

Competition is the essence of American capitalism.

Free and fair competition in the marketplace for goods and ideas has made America an economic powerhouse and assured its dominant position in the world economy.

Free and fair competition has led to an increase in the goods and services available. It has led to an improvement in the quality of life for workers and investors. It keeps the door open to socio-economic advancement with the dream that someone who is willing to work harder and has a better product to bring to market can succeed.

The system works as long as competition is truly free and fair.

In the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, real wages for workers rose by 40% in 30 years, but at the same time industrialist robber barons amassed and consolidated financial and political power. They did not hesitate to use this power and economic influence to prevent competition and amass even more wealth and power.

It was only reformers who were able to break the monopolies with the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in July 1890 and other laws and regulations that were intended to restore American capitalism and encourage free and fair competition.

The recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Justice against Google continues the crusade for a free and fair market.

The Justice Department and dozens of state attorneys general won a landslide victory over Google on Aug. 5 when a federal judge ruled that the search giant had illegally monopolized the online search and advertising markets for the past decade, securing up to 90% of the search engine market through partnerships with companies like Apple, Samsung and Verizon. The lawsuit was years in the making.

“For years, Google has dominated, profiting from the hard work and massive investment of publishers while journalism has struggled to survive — all at a time when people need trustworthy news and information more than ever. This landmark decision finally recognizes that this is unacceptable and unlawful, that Google must be held accountable, and that competition must be restored to the marketplace,” News/Media Alliance President and CEO Danielle Coffey said in a press release announcing the ruling.

Coffey cited Google’s market dominance, including reports from member news publishers of anticompetitive practices. “Google takes up to 70 percent of every advertising dollar it receives from publishers. That has a significant impact on what news and magazine publishers get for their content,” he said.

“This victory against Google is a historic victory for the American people,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement about the ruling. “No company — no matter how large or influential — is above the law. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce our antitrust laws.”

For America to remain the land of opportunity, courts must be willing to stand up to monopolies and prevent them from restricting the free market.