3 ms·

Why does it need a special tax? Just use regular ass taxes, raise them if they're not high enough. > Companies like amazon should provide adequate housing and

Why does it need a special tax? Just use regular ass taxes, raise them if they're not high enough. > Companies like amazon should provide adequate housing and other perks where they can utilize economies of scale. Sorry, but this is ridiculous. Why twist Amazon's arm into providing random social benefits, when you can just, y'know, have the government do it? Because that kind of thing is their job? Imagine if you were like, "hmm, we don't seem to have enough public parks and libraries...I know! We'll force huge private corporations to provide them! I can't wait to go to Jeff Bezos Park, sponsored by Prime Video!" Would that really be an improvement over the local government doing it?

EdwinLarkin 6y ago
I am from a former communist country and I have yet to see a competent government that used taxes efficiently and was not like "it's never enough". The problem is lack of accountability, corruption, nepotism and lack of vision (shortterm thinking). It's easier for Amazon to find a way how to construct more efficiently housing that's adequate even for lower classes. The government just need to set a quality standard for that housing.
- amelius 6y ago
  Yes, if anything needs fixing, it's governments. Because they are the ones who should fix large corporations. Not their employees or their customers.
- TulliusCicero 6y ago
  The nordic countries seem to do well enough. And for social housing, Vienna seems to be a good example.
Damorian 6y ago
Unironically, I legitimately expect Amazon would provide better social services than the government. Having dealt with a lifetime of various governmental entities, I struggle to think of a time I was actually satisfied and impressed with how they handled whatever, unlike Amazon, who continuously impresses me and quickly fixes mistakes.
- newen 6y ago
  And when they do it badly, you can vote the CEO out. How democratic.
- eeZah7Ux 6y ago
  Speed is one of the selling points of dictatorship. Companies (except worker-owned cooperatives) are hierarchical and completely undemocratic, by design. They are also focused exclusively on maximizing profit, not providing social services. Replace democratic institutions with billionaire-owned companies and we just reinvented feudalism.

EdwinLarkin 6y ago

I am from a former communist country and I have yet to see a competent government that used taxes efficiently and was not like "it's never enough". The problem is lack of accountability, corruption, nepotism and lack of vision (shortterm thinking). It's easier for Amazon to find a way how to construct more efficiently housing that's adequate even for lower classes. The government just need to set a quality standard for that housing.

amelius 6y ago
Yes, if anything needs fixing, it's governments. Because they are the ones who should fix large corporations. Not their employees or their customers.
TulliusCicero 6y ago
The nordic countries seem to do well enough. And for social housing, Vienna seems to be a good example.

Damorian 6y ago

Unironically, I legitimately expect Amazon would provide better social services than the government. Having dealt with a lifetime of various governmental entities, I struggle to think of a time I was actually satisfied and impressed with how they handled whatever, unlike Amazon, who continuously impresses me and quickly fixes mistakes.

newen 6y ago
And when they do it badly, you can vote the CEO out. How democratic.
eeZah7Ux 6y ago
Speed is one of the selling points of dictatorship. Companies (except worker-owned cooperatives) are hierarchical and completely undemocratic, by design. They are also focused exclusively on maximizing profit, not providing social services. Replace democratic institutions with billionaire-owned companies and we just reinvented feudalism.