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> Do you know why the USA is the richest country in the world while being full of homeless, or has the strongest army in the world while having the shittiest he

> Do you know why the USA is the richest country in the world while being full of homeless, or has the strongest army in the world while having the shittiest healthcare of all developed countries? Yes, its in the post you're replying too. The USA run an oligarchy system where by the vast majority of money, power and influenced and controlled by an impossibly small interconnected group. But its ok because every four years the peasants get to chooses which billionaire is the least worse and cast their vote. What does anything in my post have to do with liberalism?

javcasas 3y ago
Well, oligarchy is the eventual result of liberalism. Even though we may have started equal, some people, through luck or questionable methods, have attained a position of power, possibly by being owners of a company that has a monopolistic status. And now, via regulatory capture and targeted actions against competitors, looks to subvert the "free" hand of the market. Why can't you get decent internet in the States? Because on each location there are two or maybe three companies that collude to keep prices high. And when you try to start your own ISP, suddenly these companies offer crazy good/under cost prices so that your new ISP is unable to survive, and then jack up the prices again. Of course, at any point, as a consumer, you are absolutely free to enter into a contract with whatever ISP you want. If only there were a few more... Now tell me how do you fix that without bigger state imposing specific regulations.
- swarnie 3y ago
  Ok just to be clear, your the only one here talking about Liberalism. Liberalism and libertarianism are two very different things.
  - javcasas 3y ago
    Sure, can you explain the differences? Google is not being helpful here, it seems both words have quite a bit of propaganda behind them.
  - throwaway86375 3y ago
    GP seems to be using the "classical liberalism" definition of liberalism, which largerly overlaps with what's generally considered libertarianism.

javcasas 3y ago

Well, oligarchy is the eventual result of liberalism. Even though we may have started equal, some people, through luck or questionable methods, have attained a position of power, possibly by being owners of a company that has a monopolistic status. And now, via regulatory capture and targeted actions against competitors, looks to subvert the "free" hand of the market. Why can't you get decent internet in the States? Because on each location there are two or maybe three companies that collude to keep prices high. And when you try to start your own ISP, suddenly these companies offer crazy good/under cost prices so that your new ISP is unable to survive, and then jack up the prices again. Of course, at any point, as a consumer, you are absolutely free to enter into a contract with whatever ISP you want. If only there were a few more... Now tell me how do you fix that without bigger state imposing specific regulations.

swarnie 3y ago
Ok just to be clear, your the only one here talking about Liberalism. Liberalism and libertarianism are two very different things.
- javcasas 3y ago
  Sure, can you explain the differences? Google is not being helpful here, it seems both words have quite a bit of propaganda behind them.
- throwaway86375 3y ago
  GP seems to be using the "classical liberalism" definition of liberalism, which largerly overlaps with what's generally considered libertarianism.