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A comment on Justice Department, states likely to bring antitrust lawsuits against Google. Parent comment

Re:Justice Department, states likely to bring antitrust laws... by take_a_breath on Saturday May 16, 2020 @08:06AM (#23202734)
The opposite of lower consumer prices not mattering, is lower consumer prices being the only thing that matters. It seems you are suggesting prices are the only thing. The key phrase here is “market power”, not just prices.

==since lower consumer prices mean consumers, i.e., the people, are better off.==

Over what time frame are they better off?

Are workers (also people) better off?

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Re:Justice Department, states likely to bring antitrust laws... by pdonis on Sunday May 17, 2020 @12:03AM (#23209467)
> It seems you are suggesting prices are the only thing.

No, but any supposed other benefits that outweigh prices getting higher are even harder to measure, so basing government intervention on them is even harder to justify.

> Over what time frame are they better off?

Um, whatever time frame the prices are lower?

> Are workers (also people) better off?

If they have to spend less on what they need, it would seem so.

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Re:Justice Department, states likely to bring antitrust laws... by take_a_breath on Sunday May 17, 2020 @01:03PM (#23213321)
“Things are hard to measure, so we should just focus on what’s easy, regardless of its actual effectiveness” doesn’t seem like a great compromise.

“Spend less on what they need” is same Walmart argument we’ve heard for decades. Meanwhile, the middle class shrinks and many of the things people need to improve their lives (shelter, healthcare, education) get more and more expensive and wages stagnate.

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