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My god, how could anyone be expected to overcome poverty and inequality without same-day prime delivery? Sure there's still two-day prime delivery that the majo

by Dr_tldr 10y ago

My god, how could anyone be expected to overcome poverty and inequality without same-day prime delivery? Sure there's still two-day prime delivery that the majority of Amazon Prime members of all races have, but clearly that's no different than the grim inequality of segregated water fountains and poll taxes. The implied conclusion is that a business should do something that loses them revenue if the alternative is a vague insinuation of structural racism. By this same logic, luxury car dealerships should build their showrooms in inner-city ghettos and rural areas because everyone has a right to test drive a Ferrari, economics be damned.

flashman 10y ago
That's a bit of a reductio ad absurdum. Same-day Prime service is a bit of a luxury now, but so was internet access twenty years ago. Widespread internet access has had many positive economic effects in poor communities. Better Prime access may do to the same, as the article says, by increasing the range of available goods and reducing their prices - both positive effects in poor communities.
- Dr_tldr 10y ago
  This is equivalent to an article arguing that 50 mb/s internet isn't fast enough and every community should be offered 100 mb/s internet, even if doing so causes large net losses to the providers. They don't produce any evidence that the difference between one day and two day shipping has a negative impact on people's ability to increase the amount of available goods and obtain them at lower prices. Is there some mysterious perishable, necessary good that can only be ordered 24 hours in advance that unlocks upward mobility?
  - tmptmp 10y ago
    Great response Dr_tldr. One day vs two day shipping should not even be an issue to whine about. Tomorrow these socialist-minded activists may demand many such things (same day delivery, 1gbps internet and so on) in the name of social good and these they demand invariably at the cost of other businesses and other people. They should do that on their own. Besides, anything given for free isn't much appreciated by the receivers too. Even the government should be cautious, as too much of tax money spent on "such social" projects is not much good for the society as a whole. UK welfare system is a good example how bad such "social" projects can be for the society.

by Dr_tldr 10y ago

flashman 10y ago

That's a bit of a reductio ad absurdum. Same-day Prime service is a bit of a luxury now, but so was internet access twenty years ago. Widespread internet access has had many positive economic effects in poor communities. Better Prime access may do to the same, as the article says, by increasing the range of available goods and reducing their prices - both positive effects in poor communities.

Dr_tldr 10y ago
This is equivalent to an article arguing that 50 mb/s internet isn't fast enough and every community should be offered 100 mb/s internet, even if doing so causes large net losses to the providers. They don't produce any evidence that the difference between one day and two day shipping has a negative impact on people's ability to increase the amount of available goods and obtain them at lower prices. Is there some mysterious perishable, necessary good that can only be ordered 24 hours in advance that unlocks upward mobility?
- tmptmp 10y ago
  Great response Dr_tldr. One day vs two day shipping should not even be an issue to whine about. Tomorrow these socialist-minded activists may demand many such things (same day delivery, 1gbps internet and so on) in the name of social good and these they demand invariably at the cost of other businesses and other people. They should do that on their own. Besides, anything given for free isn't much appreciated by the receivers too. Even the government should be cautious, as too much of tax money spent on "such social" projects is not much good for the society as a whole. UK welfare system is a good example how bad such "social" projects can be for the society.