Monopoly is a funny thing. It creeps up and grows slowly into a big company and no one sees what is happening. Monopolies are destroying a culture that contributes to making this country great.

The factories that moved to foreign countries have automatically established a monopoly on products and goods once made in the United States and now are made and shipped back to this country at prices cheaper than can be made here.

Every time an item is bought at the businesses that purchases these items from the various foreign countries, the labor market is affected.

There are many monopolies in this country, but some of the businesses that stand out now are the supercenters, depots, fast foods and supermarkets.

Because these companies can buy items in large quantities and at lower costs, they are gradually gaining exclusive control over the buying and pricing of commodities. They fix prices and they virtually eliminate competition and a monopoly comes into being.

As a result, many independent groceries, hardware, restaurants, shoe and clothing stores and lumber yards have had to close down. It has also affected the “downtowns” in many cities and small communities.

The opportunities that young people looked forward to taking over their father’s business or to follow in his trade have vanished.

You cannot fight progress and improvements and a better way of doing things, but when it comes to destroying the culture that contributed to making this country great, then it has gone too far.

Raymond H. Bennett, Auburn