Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by almost_usual on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:48AM
(#23499743)
I’d doubt the US government would allow another Chinese monopoly to take the place of an American one.
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Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by logicchains on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:53AM
(#23499806)
What's it going to do, ban it? Is there any precedent for the US permanently banning successful foreign retailers?
Even if it did, that still wouldn't stop the Chinese company taking a dominant place in the rest of the world, like Google, Facebook and Amazon do now. Which would represent a massive loss to US intelligence-gathering capabilities and soft power.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by almost_usual on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:55AM
(#23499828)
What you’re arguing is “monopolies are OK because China does it”.
So what happens if China gets more powerful because they’re authoritarian? Does that mean US authoritarianism is OK if it keeps the US #1?
It’s a slippery slope and I’m not on board.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by logicchains on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:59AM
(#23499879)
It's not about okay or not okay, it's just pointing out that if the US government breaks up Amazon, it may just be replaced by a Chinese monopoly, ultimately achieving no big benefit, but hurting America's geopolitical interests.
Outcomes matter, not intentions.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by archagon on Friday June 12, 2020 @02:44PM
(#23502339)
I'd rather live in a second-rate democracy than a first-rate corporatocracy. To me, that's the only outcome that matters. If the Chinese monopoly does things to break our laws, it can be sanctioned or banned.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by scarface74 on Friday June 12, 2020 @05:04PM
(#23503904)
Corporate America doesn’t have the power of the police or military to take away my liberty or property.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by archagon on Friday June 12, 2020 @05:23PM
(#23504044)
Well, it certainly did in the past!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worker_deaths_in_Unite...
And there are much more disturbing historical examples of unrestrained corporatism:
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by scarface74 on Friday June 12, 2020 @05:50PM
(#23504283)
Have you seen the actions of the government lately - not in the distant pass.
Re:Tim Bray told a union meeting Amazon should be broken up
by almost_usual on Friday June 12, 2020 @11:01AM
(#23499904)
If tensions rise to that degree we’ll be even deeper into a Cold War where you’ll see other countries pick sides with who they do business with.