The masses despair. They write many letters to the Straits Times! The gahmen should never have allowed competition, they scream. They should have known that the market wasn't big enough! Now we will have to pay both of them to get our sports fix!

Masses: Who thought of this free market thing! How did they ever think that there would really be lower prices! These people are eejits! We demand the gahmen do something about it. BLOODDD!

Wait, said Singtel. We're charging you less than Starhub!

Masses: BLOOOD!!!! .. hurh. Lesssss?

Singtel: In fact, we won't force you to take a basic package! It's just pure sports goodness.

Masses: Rurrhhhhhh. Cheeeperrrr? Gruhhh.

Singtel: At two dollars less than your previous provider!

Masses: Urhhhh. Singtellll... We not upset anymore! Hurhhhhurrrhhh.

**************

It's surprising how easily people are satisfied. I think this will dam the flood of letters to the Straits Times with remarkable efficacy.

People are short-sighted. They don't care whether it's a free market, or an oligopoly, or the mechanism of higher prices, or what could happen in future. All they're bothered about are the prices, right now. Cheaper sports packages! Yay!

I bet on Monday there'll be a few letters lauding Singtel for their "fair pricing" and for "listening to public opinion". Prices could easily increase in future. It's a monopolistic oligopoly. The sky's the limit!

Someday, they'll charge more. And people will start moaning about the same things again. It's not fair! It's irresponsible of them to do this! Help us, gahmen!

It's a free market. Suck it up.

written at 9:36 p.m.