4 ms·

socialists in 2019: "evil oligoplies are driving down prices unfairly meaning local businesses cant compete and are forced to close" socialists in 2022: "evil

by ffggvv 4y ago

socialists in 2019: "evil oligoplies are driving down prices unfairly meaning local businesses cant compete and are forced to close" socialists in 2022: "evil oligopolies are raising prices unfairly causing inflation" havent found one that could explain why they didnt "collude" to raise prices in 2008-2019. whereas its quite clear what caused the high prices was rather insane govt spending caused by socialist policies.

donthellbanme 4y ago
1. Between 2008-2019 they just didn't realize they could. I have found the years you quote to be high priced. Competition just went done in every sector I depend on. Banks, cell phone companies, cable, energy prices went up without inflation, etc. 2. The minute we started talking about inflation, every company in my life took advantage of it--overnight. 3. I'm with you on the government spending. I understood the money thrown at Covid, but that's done, and the working poor will never see those checks ever again. And I'm no fan of the Infrastructure Bill. 4. If you don't wonder why gasoline prices fluctuate by a dollar hourly at some stations, while making record profits; I don't know what to say. 5. Every large company made record profits during Covid, and we don't know why? They didn't lower prices. Again the $300 extra per week for unemployed people affected by Covid was a one time thing. Companies might get free money as usual, but not the little guys. It was conservatives (Trumpy) that passed first 2 trillion stimulious package. America has just a few badly run "socialist" programs. I think we all have seen our homeless population get bigger each month. Oh yea, federal government programs. Basically (Cal-fresh, and medi-cal)have gone back to make qualifying very hard.
AnimalMuppet 4y ago
You are spot-on about your criticism of oligopolies as an explanation. But for your theory, you have to explain the absence of inflation from 2008-2019. It's not like government spending was sane during those years...
- willcipriano 4y ago
  Take a look at the stock market, housing, education and medical from 2008 to 2019 and tell me there wasn't inflation.
- ffggvv 4y ago
  https://datalab.usaspending.gov/americas-finance-guide/deficit/trends/ https://datalab.usaspending.gov/americas-finance-guide/defic... ^^ that chart. also, giving people money directly with stuff like unemployment and stimulus checks is extremely stimulative compared to say building a bridge. massive supply shocks didnt help either. but they govt knew there was supply shocks and increased demand anyway. despite warnings by democratic economists. (we just found out yellen herself had misgivings about the 1.9T price tag)
skinnymuch 4y ago
The core aspect of socialism is the means of production and the fruits of labor [and exchange of all this] in the hands of the people. Only the distribution part are what any safety net programs are about. I assume socialist policies means govt programs. The people you’re referring to would not be saying companies are taking advantage of the zeitgeist and raking in bigger profits knowing inflation talks will take all the blame or straw manning like your 2022 line. Gas prices rising so much providing incredible profits is an obvious example of this. No one in the White House or Senate are socialists. Bernie is like the Nordic model: capitalism + large safety nets + govt programs. The senate has been in republican control or with the useless Dem leaning current situation with too many conservative Dems. Trump’s regime did some of the biggest “socialist policies” spending. It is wild to assert the right pass socialist policies.
paulmd 4y ago
isn't the whole "walmart cycle" of "aggressively undercut local businesses until a monopoly has been established, then increase prices once you have control of the market" pretty well-established at this point? you're phrasing the two halves of that cycle as if it's supposed to be some sort of a contradiction. Applies to Amazon too nowadays.
- ffggvv 4y ago
  no actually walmart has been keepign their prices low. thats paritally why they took a massive stock hit in may. (same with target). guess its just a coincidence that they chose now to do it. and not 2017

by ffggvv 4y ago

donthellbanme 4y ago

1. Between 2008-2019 they just didn't realize they could. I have found the years you quote to be high priced. Competition just went done in every sector I depend on. Banks, cell phone companies, cable, energy prices went up without inflation, etc. 2. The minute we started talking about inflation, every company in my life took advantage of it--overnight. 3. I'm with you on the government spending. I understood the money thrown at Covid, but that's done, and the working poor will never see those checks ever again. And I'm no fan of the Infrastructure Bill. 4. If you don't wonder why gasoline prices fluctuate by a dollar hourly at some stations, while making record profits; I don't know what to say. 5. Every large company made record profits during Covid, and we don't know why? They didn't lower prices. Again the $300 extra per week for unemployed people affected by Covid was a one time thing. Companies might get free money as usual, but not the little guys. It was conservatives (Trumpy) that passed first 2 trillion stimulious package. America has just a few badly run "socialist" programs. I think we all have seen our homeless population get bigger each month. Oh yea, federal government programs. Basically (Cal-fresh, and medi-cal)have gone back to make qualifying very hard.

AnimalMuppet 4y ago

You are spot-on about your criticism of oligopolies as an explanation. But for your theory, you have to explain the absence of inflation from 2008-2019. It's not like government spending was sane during those years...

willcipriano 4y ago
Take a look at the stock market, housing, education and medical from 2008 to 2019 and tell me there wasn't inflation.
ffggvv 4y ago
https://datalab.usaspending.gov/americas-finance-guide/deficit/trends/ https://datalab.usaspending.gov/americas-finance-guide/defic... ^^ that chart. also, giving people money directly with stuff like unemployment and stimulus checks is extremely stimulative compared to say building a bridge. massive supply shocks didnt help either. but they govt knew there was supply shocks and increased demand anyway. despite warnings by democratic economists. (we just found out yellen herself had misgivings about the 1.9T price tag)

skinnymuch 4y ago

The core aspect of socialism is the means of production and the fruits of labor [and exchange of all this] in the hands of the people. Only the distribution part are what any safety net programs are about. I assume socialist policies means govt programs. The people you’re referring to would not be saying companies are taking advantage of the zeitgeist and raking in bigger profits knowing inflation talks will take all the blame or straw manning like your 2022 line. Gas prices rising so much providing incredible profits is an obvious example of this. No one in the White House or Senate are socialists. Bernie is like the Nordic model: capitalism + large safety nets + govt programs. The senate has been in republican control or with the useless Dem leaning current situation with too many conservative Dems. Trump’s regime did some of the biggest “socialist policies” spending. It is wild to assert the right pass socialist policies.

paulmd 4y ago

isn't the whole "walmart cycle" of "aggressively undercut local businesses until a monopoly has been established, then increase prices once you have control of the market" pretty well-established at this point? you're phrasing the two halves of that cycle as if it's supposed to be some sort of a contradiction. Applies to Amazon too nowadays.

ffggvv 4y ago
no actually walmart has been keepign their prices low. thats paritally why they took a massive stock hit in may. (same with target). guess its just a coincidence that they chose now to do it. and not 2017