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That's not a serious problem nowadays. Problems of monopolistic control is like a drop in a lake of water compared to the problems that our lawmakers cause by r

That's not a serious problem nowadays. Problems of monopolistic control is like a drop in a lake of water compared to the problems that our lawmakers cause by ridiculously high taxes and bureaucracy. If we're trying to fight monopolies today, we're fighting completely the wrong problems. Competition doesn't succeed because of taxes. Tearing down Amazon or Google due to reasons of monopoly (and therefore little competition) is like tearing down a newly built building because there was a bad paint job on one of the walls! It doesn't make sense. If there are no other buildings standing, it's because lawmakers don't create an environment where others can succeed (because of taxes and bureaucracy). We look at Amazon (for example), and say hey, they're really successful, and they're sort of alone, they must have cheated by using monopolistic control measurements, and then we search to find out how. But all alone we miss the real problems: it's the taxes and bureaucracy that don't let others succeed.

thewix 3y ago
Got anything to back that up? Businesses managed to thrive before when taxes were considerably higher. How do you account for the Gilded Age? How were those monopolies different than today and how did taxes and bureaucracy exacerbate issues then? Because there are many parallels between them and now.
- personomas 3y ago
  See my comment here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 You have a complete misunderstanding of "thriving". Thriving is Google/Amazon in the past 20 years. IDK what thriving businesses you're talking about. You can't go back to the Gilded Age, dude, that's crazy. We have to keep things relevant.
ethanbond 3y ago
What’s your evidence?
- personomas 3y ago
  See my point here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434
nwellinghoff 3y ago
This is a fair point. I would also call to attention the ability of the big players to avoid paying a large portion of their taxes. The double irish etc. This giving them a unfair advantage vs small competition that can’t afford the overhead of complex tax structures.
- personomas 3y ago
  This is actually a great point to illustrate how true my argument is. One reason those companies have succeeded building amazing products and services, that now rake in billions of taxes dollars every month, is because many years ago they were able to get around paying taxes. As a result, they built amazing stuff for us, that we are benefiting both as consumers and as a society, because now they generate tax money for us from all over the world. You see, when we relieve companies of the unbelievable burden of taxes, what do we get in return: these companies produce tremendously more value for society (via better products and services) which then generate more revenue over the long-haul via taxes for us. It doesn't make sense to tax companies! They are unselfish entities designed to serve society, why would we tax them?????? It's f****** crazy. Of course, now those tax loops have been filled, and other companies can't build products to competitive with Amazon/Google. But is that Amazon's fault? NO. It's the shitty legislators. You can't punish Amazon for that - insane. Amazon/Google were able LEGALLY get around paying taxes, that is not illegal, and it's definitely not immoral. Punishing them for that is crazy.
  - klyrs 3y ago
    > They are unselfish entities designed to serve society, why would we tax them?????? It's f*** crazy. This is about the most outlandish claim I've ever seen made in defense of big tech. They literally are not charitable organizations. They serve the selfish desires of their respective CEOs, boards, and shareholders. Second tier consideration to advertisers, then employees and users in distant third. "Society" doesn't factor in, until they arrive at the gates with pitchforks.
    - personomas 3y ago

thewix 3y ago

Got anything to back that up? Businesses managed to thrive before when taxes were considerably higher. How do you account for the Gilded Age? How were those monopolies different than today and how did taxes and bureaucracy exacerbate issues then? Because there are many parallels between them and now.

personomas 3y ago
See my comment here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 You have a complete misunderstanding of "thriving". Thriving is Google/Amazon in the past 20 years. IDK what thriving businesses you're talking about. You can't go back to the Gilded Age, dude, that's crazy. We have to keep things relevant.

ethanbond 3y ago

What’s your evidence?

personomas 3y ago
See my point here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37725434

nwellinghoff 3y ago

This is a fair point. I would also call to attention the ability of the big players to avoid paying a large portion of their taxes. The double irish etc. This giving them a unfair advantage vs small competition that can’t afford the overhead of complex tax structures.

personomas 3y ago
This is actually a great point to illustrate how true my argument is. One reason those companies have succeeded building amazing products and services, that now rake in billions of taxes dollars every month, is because many years ago they were able to get around paying taxes. As a result, they built amazing stuff for us, that we are benefiting both as consumers and as a society, because now they generate tax money for us from all over the world. You see, when we relieve companies of the unbelievable burden of taxes, what do we get in return: these companies produce tremendously more value for society (via better products and services) which then generate more revenue over the long-haul via taxes for us. It doesn't make sense to tax companies! They are unselfish entities designed to serve society, why would we tax them?????? It's f****** crazy. Of course, now those tax loops have been filled, and other companies can't build products to competitive with Amazon/Google. But is that Amazon's fault? NO. It's the shitty legislators. You can't punish Amazon for that - insane. Amazon/Google were able LEGALLY get around paying taxes, that is not illegal, and it's definitely not immoral. Punishing them for that is crazy.
- klyrs 3y ago
  > They are unselfish entities designed to serve society, why would we tax them?????? It's f*** crazy. This is about the most outlandish claim I've ever seen made in defense of big tech. They literally are not charitable organizations. They serve the selfish desires of their respective CEOs, boards, and shareholders. Second tier consideration to advertisers, then employees and users in distant third. "Society" doesn't factor in, until they arrive at the gates with pitchforks.
  - personomas 3y ago