Liberty and American Civilization

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6. Protectionist Origins of Antitrust

Liberty and American Civilization

Tags Corporate WelfareU.S. HistoryInterventionism

06/08/2006Thomas J. DiLorenzo

The myth of antitrust, the myth of the New Deal and labor union myths are three economic fallacies. All three declare that government must save capitalism from itself.

The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed to fight supposed rampant cartelization practices in the 1880s. Despite bold statements, there existed no evidence of rampant monopolies. The so called antitrust law was a fig-leaf. The real monopoly had been created by tariffs. Antitrust is a protection racket.

Lecture 6 of 10 from the Steven Berger Seminar: Thomas DiLorenzo on Liberty and American Civilization.

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Contact Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Thomas DiLorenzo is a former professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland and a member of the senior faculty of the Mises Institute. He is the author or co-author of eighteen books including The Real Lincoln; How Capitalism Saved America; Lincoln Unmasked; Hamilton's Curse; Organized Crime: The Unvarnished Truth About Government; The Problem with Socialism; and The Politically-Incorrect Guide to Economics