Few, if any industries are as fragmented as trucking. The Sure Wish I'd Finished Training (& group) of companies has the largest share. Even so, this doesn't amount to more than one percent.

I used to live in Spike Green's neighborhood, Fort Green. I've been ranting against mom & pop operators since high school. High margins, uneven service, enriching a few small operators. Small operations feed the middle class at the expense of the lower.

Socialism at its worst. Voter legislated inefficiency. Consumers and taxpayers pay the price.

Socialism is an economic system. Democracy is a polititical system. Socialism without Democracy might work. With Democracy, Socialism is a horrible mess.

A big box store, the first in NYC, was going up around the corner. The damage to mom & pop corner shops would not wreak as much economic disaster until the wailing of the poor, poor suffering caused by the unbearable havoc of the record industry during Napster & iTunes. If you want to credit anyone with inventing iTunes, credit Napster.

oligarchy or not?

Am I advocating an oligarchy along the lines of an A/B split with a mix of C, D...? Perhaps. Perhaps if that oligarchy arises, we'll have an Aerostate sooner. If an oligarchy arises, and the Aerostate does as well, consumers and taxpayers will benefit. Other industries will arise, first in mom & pop operations.

After big box stores, local business is enriched by lower costs, not just lower prices, better quality services & products, less transportation expenses, etc. The Aerostate could facilitate the same cycle of conglomeration, fragmentation, conglomeration (repeat) on a global scale.

Either way, there will always be a Chicken Little.