Enough is enough. This poll will decide whether the AMA qualifies as a monopoly for all intense and purposes in this forum. Simple and sweet.

I see STL has voted

Bump

Why is it important if AMA is a monopoly or not?
Does it matter anyway?
What's the purpose of this poll?

The only purpose of any poll is to hopefully acquire a consensus and in this case whether or not AMA is a monopoly as it pertains to this forum now and in the future.

There has been a debate going in this forum for as long as I can remember off and on as to whether or not AMA is a monopoly and continues to be debated in current threads now.

I thought it would be advantageous to put this one to bed once and for all.

The AMA, in all technical purposes is NOT a monopoly. However, the AMA is the only company at this time that has an insurance plan catered specifically to select RC modelers which could lead to the conclusion that the AMA could be a monopoly. However, to be accurate, I vote no. Also, the AMA isn't keeping any other company from entering the market either.



50%

With the assumption that you meant 'intents and purposes', a poll - even one that results in a consensus of the poll respondents - doesn't answer your question. To do that would require a legal analysis.

Just by posting that... seems to show that you are simple looking for reactions and not interested with anyones real opinion......

Just in addendum:

In fact they are doing a lot to promote it.

Are you willing to do the "legal analysis"? Actually, this poll can be used to 'define our use of terms'. Defining terms within certain contexts are done all the time......nothing new.

Please expand on that assertion.

Many AMA members aren't happy with the AMA and the AMA has missed a major segment of this hobby. In fact, I would say that electric parkflyers are the driving force of this hobby. The AMA has left some gaping holes for another association, like themselves, to step in and make a huge profit by doing things right.


50%

I doubt that any AMA like association is poised for huge profits via the electric modeler but more to the point you are mixing apples and oranges since AMA is a NFP business.

No.

A monopoly has sole control and infulence over a given business domain.

1. The AMA is a club that one chooses to join to support model aviation.
2. If you want to fly RC you can do it without being a member of the AMA.
3. For those that look at AMA as a source of insurance, it is only secondary insurance anyway, and you can get coverage on your own (you may pay more, but you can get it)

Those are just the three that popped into my head immediatly, I'm sure more will follow since there is a lot of empty space to fill there.

Park fliers are "the driving force of this hobby" ? No offense but after flying for 35 years my conclusion is that whatever turns your crank is the driving force of the hobby. Seen lots of driving forces come and go, the average Joe sport flier is the one constant.
As to your poll. If you don't wan't to belong to AMA then don't join. We don't need another poll to know that some people just have no love for orginizations.

Posted this is in wrong thread. Here is my take.

I can do a quick take analysis, based on the AMA's mission statement and membership benefits.

1. I can buy many RC based magazine which rivals MA for sheer content.
2. My homeowners covers me if I damage or hurt someone with my plane. In fact the AMA's insurance is only secondary and will not cover at all unless my primary insurance refuses to do so, but even then it will be questionable.
3. I'm hosting a flying event down at my local park this weekend which does not require AMA insurance and where you are allowed to fly RC aircraft.
4. I can walk out my back door and fly a RC airplane any size, shape or form that I choose, nobody is going to stop or control me.
5. I promote the hobby for a living and the AMA has nothing to do with it. You can too if you wish, nobody is stopping me, why would they stop you? In fact I have support from FAA, EAA, AOPA, AEC and Dept of Education and many other agencies.
6. I've acquired and spent about $40,000 this year from a grants and foundations to fuel youth aviation programs. More then the AMA did. They supported the hobby in their own way.

Most the other benefits of the AMA are, well, member benefits and only applicable to be a member of their club, but that's what makes the AMA a club like many other types of clubs.

Go ahead and "think" the AMA is a monopoly, it's better for a lot of you. Dependency is an important thing to a lot of people. Def better for the AMA.

I'm not talking specifically about foamies. I'm using them as an example of how the AMA really doesn't pay much attention to the largest segment of this hobby. Thus the reason why they are NOT a monopoly. Another company/NFP business could easily step in here.

clearly there should be some For Profit company jumping on the Eflight/PF market- If the AMA sells $10 insurance for $58, what's wrong with a insurance company selling $10 insurance for $20 to the E/PFs... even if we claim the new company cant get the coverage for $10 like ama, even if they get it for $20 or $25 there is plenty of room for markup and stay well below the AMA 58.

This new insurance co could contact the municipalities that grant fields to AMA, and show the same insurance coverage with similar safety rules... and demand equal access to the public lands granted to ama clubs, or get the competative bid going to get exclusive use of public land.

or is ama club monoplolizing said public lands and will fight Co-Use or Competition To Use those public lands- such as the regional parks in the San Fransico bay area?

"Many AMA members aren't happy with the AMA and the AMA has missed a major segment of this hobby. In fact, I would say that electric parkflyers are the driving force of this hobby. The AMA has left some gaping holes for another association, like themselves, to step in and make a huge profit by doing things right."

Gee, I thought STLPilot was going to set up his organization for parkfliers.
For months he kept telling us how easy it is to form an organization that is for PF's, and how he going to take that segment since AMA ditched his beloved e-ticket program.
I'm sure all the PF's out there are waiting with great anticipation for his new organization.
Guess they'll have to wait a little longer.
Jon

What is a monopoly??

Here's a definition from the internet:
I guess the AMA is a monopoly in what it does.(provide a worthless service for 99% of it's members) However, if the AMA was REAL insurance, then the AMA wouldn't be a monopoly as they would be, by definition, competing with your homeowners insurance, and auto insurance. Since I don't have either auto insurance, or homeowners, the AMA is my primary insurance and if I decided to crash my plane into someone, they would have to pay up. I guess it is a good thing that the AMA is a Monopoly for me. However, it really isn't a monopoly that changes your life in any dramatic way.


50%

For now I've been working on another segment that the AMA doens't particually focus on, kids. Not that they want to sideline them, they just don't want to focus on them. Great, I'm all over it, BTW franchise offerings will be available in about 4 weeks, FYI.

If you haven't read the AMA minutes, they are STILL working on developing some kind of e-ticket program. I can assure you eyes are watching. I don't do things to satisfy you Jon, I have investors to please and employees to pay before it comes to pleasing RCU forum posters. If the AMA just wants to run circles with ideas and not jump into the middle, someone will take advantage of that situation, could be dozens of investors, heck maybe even Horizon or Tower, you never know.

I thought STL was getting Central Park NY opened up to flying.

Hmmm...if he does maybe he can find a way to have it monopolized... see smiley face?

Does anyone recognize humor anymore?

Sorry 50% but what single service that the AMA provides that I can't find elsewhere? Other then the events that it owns under their umbrella? AMA just provides a combined service package FOR IT'S MEMBERS, but not for the rest of the RC flying community. Like I said, most anti AMA guys think the AMA SHOULD BE an ala-carte brick and mortar provider of RC service, but it's not, again and again, IT'S A CLUB!!! In a monopoly you can't find it elsewhere. Ya know MONO, single. Before AT&T breakup you COULD NOT FIND OTHER PROVIDERS AT ALL, that's a monopoly.

The EAA owns Oshkosh, 800,000 member event, why don't they just hand it over to AOPA who would kill for that event? Because THEY WORKED FOR THE EVENT!!!! It costs them blood, sweat and tears, it's called ownership, not a monopoly.

Exactly! I'm saying it's a monopoly for me as it the only "insurance" that I have. Other than that, there's no monopoly about it except for the fact that the AMA offers a bag of crap that many RC pilots buy into. Still, that doesn't make it a monopoly.

Monopoly:

" A situation in which a single company or group owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. By definition, monopoly is characterized by an absence of competition - which often results in high prices and inferior products.

For a strict academic definition, a monopoly is a market containing a single firm.

Investopedia Says: Monopoly is the extreme case in capitalism. Most believe that, with few exceptions, the system just doesn't work when there is only one provider of a good or service because there is no incentive to improve it to meet the demands of consumers. Governments attempt to prevent monopolies from arising through the use of antitrust laws.

Of course, there are gray areas; take for example the granting of patents on new inventions. These give, in effect, a monopoly on a product for a set period of time. The reasoning behind patents is to give innovators some time to recoup what are often large research and development costs. In theory, they are a way of using monopolies to promote innovation. Another example are public monopolies set up by governments to provide essential services. Some believe that utilities should offer public goods and services such as water and electricity at a price affordable to everyone."