3 ms·

Where I live, the U.S. Military (and the constitution by which they swear an oath to defend) is stopping them. That is the importance of the word “legally”. The

Where I live, the U.S. Military (and the constitution by which they swear an oath to defend) is stopping them. That is the importance of the word “legally”. There is a role to play for state governments, and that role is solely to protect the individual liberties of its citizens. Not to provide services or products. Tesla doesn’t send policemen to my door to intimidate me to buy their cars. But if I don’t pay my taxes…

wormlord 2y ago
I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I don't think private firms need to be as ham-fisted as sending cops to your door though. If Tesla wants to increase car ownership, they just need to control a few key politicians to dismantle alternative forms of transporation. In an ideal world, liberal democratic governments would keep corporations under control while ensuring our individual rights, and corporations would provide goods and services at the lowest, most efficient rate. This is not the case in reality unfortunately.
- animal_spirits 2y ago
  The only way politicians have the power over dismantling alternative forms of transportation is if the government has any control over building and maintaining transportation infrastructure, idk something like a Department of Transportation. Same goes for agriculture, finance, labor, healthcare… When we provide the government with these powers, it is within the self interest of corporations to control the politicians. If the politicians have no power to change these things, there is no use in corporations bribing them.
  - wormlord 2y ago
    This is becoming a circular argument. The corporations bribe the politicians because the politicians exist and have power. If the gov't didn't exist, the corporations would directly have power over you instead of indirectly. They would essentially be the new governing body. My entire point has been that power is power and authoritarianism can be private or governmental.

wormlord 2y ago

I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I don't think private firms need to be as ham-fisted as sending cops to your door though. If Tesla wants to increase car ownership, they just need to control a few key politicians to dismantle alternative forms of transporation. In an ideal world, liberal democratic governments would keep corporations under control while ensuring our individual rights, and corporations would provide goods and services at the lowest, most efficient rate. This is not the case in reality unfortunately.

animal_spirits 2y ago
The only way politicians have the power over dismantling alternative forms of transportation is if the government has any control over building and maintaining transportation infrastructure, idk something like a Department of Transportation. Same goes for agriculture, finance, labor, healthcare… When we provide the government with these powers, it is within the self interest of corporations to control the politicians. If the politicians have no power to change these things, there is no use in corporations bribing them.
- wormlord 2y ago
  This is becoming a circular argument. The corporations bribe the politicians because the politicians exist and have power. If the gov't didn't exist, the corporations would directly have power over you instead of indirectly. They would essentially be the new governing body. My entire point has been that power is power and authoritarianism can be private or governmental.