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It seems like there are many situations where a company is definitely following all laws and is extracting value or relative value by making certain decisions t

It seems like there are many situations where a company is definitely following all laws and is extracting value or relative value by making certain decisions that have tax or other advantages. It also seems like the general public directs outrage or anger at these companies in response to these decisions. Why the anger at the companies and not the lawmakers who made the system in which the companies are legally operating? Is it difficult to look up who moved the laws forward? Is it just because it's easier to point fingers at a company?

tenebrisalietum 6y ago
Here's how I think the average joe sees things. Most people here may not fall into this category, but certainly know people who do: A) Politicians only listen to money; even ones that are on your side; laws therefore are skewed towards those who have money. B) Companies donate large sums of money to politicians; therefore they listen to companies. C) Very rich individuals also donate large sums of money, but the average joe can't figure those names out on their own and will rely on rumor mills from social media, and media propaganda from his/her political tribe. So people will get mad at companies first because they are more visible and the fact that it's more possible for a non-rich person to get people to stop spending money at a corporation than making a lawmaker do what you want.
artem247 6y ago
There are many levels to this but generally there is an idea that politics and especially laws like these are shaped by those who benefit from them the most - big businesses who can afford lobbying. In terms of theory there is a Marxist notion of 'ruling class'. In regards to capitalism Marxists think that ruling class of capitalism is big business, not the State itself. Politicians are in a weaker position and just implement the will of the captains of the industry. That is rather extreme notion but still one can see traces of it in society. And it generally goes both ways - companies have poor (but legal) working conditions and oppose any legislation or action that would change it by being anti-union, by funding thinktanks that do studies that prove raising minimal wage would lead to overall decrease of jobs etc.
jokethrowaway 6y ago
What can you do about politicians? They're all sell-outs. When election time comes you vote your side, hope the other side doesn't win and then spend the next for year ignoring what your guy is doing or criticising what the other side's guy is doing. Sure, you could vote the libertarian party, good luck going higher than 3%. Even if they were successful, what are the chances they won't become as corrupted as other politicians once they have the power? In the last 200 years the USA government just got bigger and inequity has just increased. Forget about politics, accept the leeches as part of life, joke that "Two things are unavoidable: death and taxes". You can at least boycott large companies and stop purchasing their goods.

tenebrisalietum 6y ago

Here's how I think the average joe sees things. Most people here may not fall into this category, but certainly know people who do: A) Politicians only listen to money; even ones that are on your side; laws therefore are skewed towards those who have money. B) Companies donate large sums of money to politicians; therefore they listen to companies. C) Very rich individuals also donate large sums of money, but the average joe can't figure those names out on their own and will rely on rumor mills from social media, and media propaganda from his/her political tribe. So people will get mad at companies first because they are more visible and the fact that it's more possible for a non-rich person to get people to stop spending money at a corporation than making a lawmaker do what you want.

artem247 6y ago

There are many levels to this but generally there is an idea that politics and especially laws like these are shaped by those who benefit from them the most - big businesses who can afford lobbying. In terms of theory there is a Marxist notion of 'ruling class'. In regards to capitalism Marxists think that ruling class of capitalism is big business, not the State itself. Politicians are in a weaker position and just implement the will of the captains of the industry. That is rather extreme notion but still one can see traces of it in society. And it generally goes both ways - companies have poor (but legal) working conditions and oppose any legislation or action that would change it by being anti-union, by funding thinktanks that do studies that prove raising minimal wage would lead to overall decrease of jobs etc.

jokethrowaway 6y ago

What can you do about politicians? They're all sell-outs. When election time comes you vote your side, hope the other side doesn't win and then spend the next for year ignoring what your guy is doing or criticising what the other side's guy is doing. Sure, you could vote the libertarian party, good luck going higher than 3%. Even if they were successful, what are the chances they won't become as corrupted as other politicians once they have the power? In the last 200 years the USA government just got bigger and inequity has just increased. Forget about politics, accept the leeches as part of life, joke that "Two things are unavoidable: death and taxes". You can at least boycott large companies and stop purchasing their goods.