The Sherman Antitrust Act-Overview And History

Signed into Law in 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act has become increasingly sparse when used in the courts today. However, it is still a very important act that keeps in check something very important - monopolies and price control. The Sherman Act, named after John Sherman who was an expert in the regulation of both trade and commerce, as well as a politician from Ohio (Sherman Antitrust Act - Overview and History, Sections, Impact), was broken up into many different sections; three of which are key to understanding this antitrust act. Section one outlaws every contract combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade. In short, anything that can be proven to restrain trade, whether by fixing prices, limiting the amount of goods made, or even

But just because we may not like a law that is passed doesn’t necessarily give us the authority to rebel against it. Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” As Christians, we are actually called to follow and obey our government because it comes directly from Christ! God has actually established our government for us, so when we break the law, we are really breaking something that God asks us to follow. Now the way I look at it, the Sherman Antitrust Act doesn’t really affect me as a consumer, right now. If anything, it’s just down to whether or not you agree with it (and as a consumer, you probably should because it's benefiting you). As a possible future businessman, this act could have an effect on me, but following this rule doesn’t really go against anything the Lord commands of us. Romans 13:2 then follows the previous verse with, “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” And there it is, written in black and white - God’s command for us to follow the rules. I do believe that there are exceptions to this. While I don’t think the Sherman Antitrust Act

What surprised me most was the severity of the punishments that could come from violating this antitrust act. As it relates to me as a consumer and business person, I think the most important thing is to just remember to not do anything resembling price fixing or monopolization (which shouldn’t be a problem). As a Christian, and while this might not have direct implications for me, it could be a good reminder to take a closer look at the laws our government has made for us and evaluate what it might look like in light of Jesus. I think it’s also important to be very careful about acts and rules like these so that they don’t hurt other people and smaller companies as a result. At the end of the day, I think it is imperative that I do things that lead me and/or others to Christ. In this instance, the best thing to do is to listen to the authority that God put in place over us. In short, the Sherman Antitrust Act is very important to the health of our competitive markets, and it doesn’t encroach on any of my beliefs as a Christian. Just remember one thing - keep the monopoly mindset when playing the game, not in real