Assignment task: I think you can make a comparison between the 19th century industrial entrepreneurs and the 21st century high-tech entrepreneurs. That is, I think you can demonstrate that because of a lack of necessary governmental regulations the trusts (or monopolies) were able to emerge in an unregulated environment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the so called robber barons who took advantage of the prevailing situation were not totally dissimilar to today's high-tech corporate tycoons who dominate the information age industry. Both arose (in part) due to a revolutionary new means of production; that is, the first and second phases of the industrial revolution in the 19th & 20th centuries and phases three and four - a new means of communicating (the digital revolution) in the 21st century plus the fact that in both cases government regulations were woefully behind the innovation curve. In the case of the 19th century example, it would require a wholesale rethink regarding government's role in regulating the economy. In the case of the 21st century's version of yesteryears' robber barons, the technology is too new and too technically-driven for most legislators to grasp and/or regulate. Our legislators sense the need for regulations but because they are candidly in over their heads, they are forced to rely on the new tech entrepreneurs to help them understand what regulations are needed; sort of like hiring the fox to guard the hen house. For the early years of the 20th century, under the leadership of people like Roosevelt and Wilson, there emerged a revamping of government we call the "Progressive Era" - such a major revamp has yet to occur in the 21st century.
Compare and contrast: a) the entrepreneurs of both eras for their implementation of organizational innovations and detail what lessons we learned from past efforts that may have some practical use today; b) discuss whether or not we need a new "Progressive Era" in government to crackdown on high-tech industries or should we allow for Adam Smith's laissez-faire and market forces (the invisible hand) to regulate the industry (explain your position); c) clarify how first amendment rights are entangled with regulatory implementation in the communications field; d) since high-tech and biology are forming a symbiotic relationship and doing so at an ever increasing rate of development, what moral or ethical considerations should regulators propose; e) should we be concerned that regulation that are too strict might inadvertently strangle innovation and, like other civilizations who chose to shut down inquiry and innovation, close ourselves off in a self-imposed death spiral; and finally, f) with the rapid advances being made in AI, should we be concerned where the industry is headed and whether or not consumers should have some say in where it's going and should government step in to help those adversely impacted by job loss attributed to new technology?