Deals
Democrats Imitate Trust-Busting Teddy in Own Populist Appeal
- Antitrust pledge in party platform for first time since 1988
- Airlines, health-care and technology firms are under fire
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks on July 14, 2016, in Washington.
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
For the first time in three decades, Democrats are officially putting big business on notice: Don’t get too big or too powerful.
The party’s platform committee has added a pledge, not seen since 1988, to go after dominant companies seen as abusing market power. Activists are complaining that a small number of players have been allowed to consolidate too many industries like telecommunications and airlines, leaving consumers worse off.