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Re:Why Dumb Ideas Capture Smart and Successful People by gms on Sunday November 19, 2023 @09:26AM (#38332900)
Yes, completely unregulated would lead to that. We need laws to protect against coercion and adjudicate in the case of disagreements between parties. Warring tribes where physical force wins is not a good place to be.
Re:Why Dumb Ideas Capture Smart and Successful People by Tainnor on Sunday November 19, 2023 @09:32AM (#38332948)
I don't think you're seeing the whole picture if you think only about physical force.

People who are well off have more opportunities to start other ventures that make them even more well-off, and if they're especially powerful, they can use that influence to further their benefit. I don't think that's particularly controversial.

Re:Why Dumb Ideas Capture Smart and Successful People by mikeyouse on Sunday November 19, 2023 @10:33AM (#38333556)
To wit, I live in a mid sized town in the Midwest - about 80 years ago a family started a business that was pretty successful and is on its third or fourth generation of ownership now — that’s all well and good but it’s insane how much of the town is owned or directed by them now. Do you want to buy a car, foreign or domestic? Host a convention? Rent a hotel room in the urban core? Put on a concert? How about go to the hospital or buy health insurance? Go to college? Send your kid to preschool? Build a commercial building?

Capital begets capital.

Re:Why Dumb Ideas Capture Smart and Successful People by gms on Sunday November 19, 2023 @11:54AM (#38334552)
It’s not easy to start successful ventures. Most new ventures fail. Even the best VCs only have a 30% success rate.
Re:Why Dumb Ideas Capture Smart and Successful People by Tainnor on Monday November 20, 2023 @03:21AM (#38344570)
That doesn't contradict anything. Most people can't afford to start a new venture, so they have a 0% success rate.