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You’re right it’s not like we have a leader that unilaterally decides what companies live or die or what mergers get approved based on who pays him off. Or th

You’re right it’s not like we have a leader that unilaterally decides what companies live or die or what mergers get approved based on who pays him off. Or the same leader doesn’t unilaterally raise tarrffs, exempt companies that bow to him and tell other companies not to pass cost increases on to customers. That doesn’t seem like the free market to me.

tehjoker 1y ago
Capitalism != free market. It means private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism naturally tends towards monopoly due to competition. Companies go out of business, competitors buy up their remains, and consolidate market share. What is happening politically is a reflection of this concentration of power that naturally accumulated due to the dynamics of capitalism (and as they rose they influence the state to enable further concentration, also part of the natural life of actually existing capitalism). In new markets, capitalism looks pretty good and the competition drives good deals for consumers and the barriers to entry are low. This devolves over time into a highly concentrated market with high barriers to entry. We've seen this story in our industry time and time again. Unfortunately, the new market state is transient, and the concentrated part is steady state. This is why people are always looking for new market opportunities.
- scarface_74 1y ago
  None of these companies that Trump is pressuring not to raise prices in response to tariffs are in any shape form or fashion monopolies, duopoly’s are any other type of “opily”. They are the car manufacturers and grocery stores and retail stores which have not been a monopoly in our lifetime. And by “our” industry I assume you mean tech. Which one of the tech companies is a “monopoly”? There is nothing I can use Google for that I can’t use another company for and with Google Search, it isn’t even the best. Amazon? I can order most things from other places or go into a physical store. Apple? I can buy one of hundreds of different phones or computers Microsoft? My life is completely Microsoft free.

tehjoker 1y ago

Capitalism != free market. It means private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism naturally tends towards monopoly due to competition. Companies go out of business, competitors buy up their remains, and consolidate market share. What is happening politically is a reflection of this concentration of power that naturally accumulated due to the dynamics of capitalism (and as they rose they influence the state to enable further concentration, also part of the natural life of actually existing capitalism). In new markets, capitalism looks pretty good and the competition drives good deals for consumers and the barriers to entry are low. This devolves over time into a highly concentrated market with high barriers to entry. We've seen this story in our industry time and time again. Unfortunately, the new market state is transient, and the concentrated part is steady state. This is why people are always looking for new market opportunities.

scarface_74 1y ago
None of these companies that Trump is pressuring not to raise prices in response to tariffs are in any shape form or fashion monopolies, duopoly’s are any other type of “opily”. They are the car manufacturers and grocery stores and retail stores which have not been a monopoly in our lifetime. And by “our” industry I assume you mean tech. Which one of the tech companies is a “monopoly”? There is nothing I can use Google for that I can’t use another company for and with Google Search, it isn’t even the best. Amazon? I can order most things from other places or go into a physical store. Apple? I can buy one of hundreds of different phones or computers Microsoft? My life is completely Microsoft free.