To the Editor:

I am writing in response to an article that was published in The St. Ignace News January 18, 2012, concerning Mackinac Island council and the lease of 200 bicycles from one business to another bicycle shop owner. The council did approve the transfer of the rental bicycles (pertaining to the licensing of increased bike rental), but were concerned with one business becoming a monopoly on bicycle rentals on the Island.

Wow, I found this situation funny. Here the council was just trying to get only one franchise to run back and forth to the Island. This did not seem to be a concern to the council then, but the one boat company to get the franchise agreement would be a monopoly. So here’s the question to the council, “Why is it okay for one business to be a monopoly, but in a different situation along with a different business, is it not okay?”

Basic economics says having any kind of monopoly is not a good thing for anyone concerned. So what makes the council decide who can and cannot have a monopoly?

Lana Lennington

St. Ignace