XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy, alt.computer.workshop, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   From: recscuba_google@huntzinger.com   
      
   On 11/25/25 15:30, chrisv wrote:   
   > Collectivists_Always_Fail wrote:   
   >   
   >> I'm no billionaire and the market is working great for me. Of course,   
   >> I began investing when I was in my tewnties.   
   >   
   > I wasn't talking about the stock market.  I meant the markets for   
   > goods and services and labor, all ruled by capitalism, and the   
   > prosperity that has resulted.   
      
      
   It has been beneficial (& better than central planning) when its   
   practices have not been undermined by monopolistic or monopsonic   
   practices (ditto oligopolies, etc).  Its because these modes of   
   exploitation function undermining free & open competition, which makes   
   it clear that some controls on capitalism are needed to prevent such   
   regular and systematic abuses from arising.   
      
   And of all people, the regulars of COLA like chrisv who've regularly   
   railed against Microsoft should be first to acknowledge this problem of   
   capitalism.  /s   
      
   IMO, we're in an era where anti-competitive business actions are   
   returning us to the 19th century 'Robber Baron' era, which has now   
   advanced beyond the poor to marginalize the middle class too:  we've   
   already been hit with high costs in education and healthcare, and the   
   next less obvious wave is private equity in what used to be small   
   locally owned businesses for things like the trades (particularly HVAC)   
   and veterinarian clinics.   
      
   And for the question of "what has changed?" the answer is that white   
   collar criminals don't go to jail anymore.  Instead, the corporation   
   pays fines without admitting guilt, and these expenses are ultimately   
   passed along as higher prices on consumers.   
      
      
   -hh   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)