The govt is always drumming up new ways to replace the middleman, or create one where ther is none before, in anything that is lucrative. Take for instance taxis, which company is now the largest operator in Singapore? For that matter, which companies are the 2 largest? Any independent ones left? Not a single one. Sure, they 'allow' new ones, but that is only after demolishing the old ones and firmly establishing themselves. Just like what they did to the bus companies.
Another case study would be the recent organ transplant act. After criminalizing middlemen in the sales of organs, citing morals, protection of donors and receipients, they set themselves comfortably as middlemen. Charge the patient a world-class fee, 'compensate' the donor a miserable percentage of that 'to discourage the donation of organs for monetary gains', and what do they do to the difference after deducting the medical fees?
The government should be in the business of governing, not governing to be in business. Leave business to the businessmen. If the govt take care of their own end competently, the rest will sort themselves out, like water finding its level.
