this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Futurology

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

And then the next baker just has to offer their bread at lower prices to gain an advantage. Seems like the sacred free market would solve this.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

In a better world where corporations would rather compete than collude, and where small business can thrive on little capital without being bullied out of the market by bigger players

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

So capitalism is broken, you say? Broken to the point of needing to be replaced, you say? With a system that gives power to the people instead of corporations, you say? You make a compelling argument.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I completely agree. I just don't think dumping money at people which will be gobbled up immediately by price gouging food/shelter is the solution. Change the economy to a planned or resource-based one. Or add more competition to the market by having government provide cheap alternatives to food/shelter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Or add more competition to the market by having government provide cheap alternatives to food/shelter.

That's the solution I think all civilized nations will land at, plus universal basic income.

So everyone has an option for effectively free (since their UBI covers it) water, food, shelter, and transportation. But standard free market sources can compete to outdo the public options in any ways the public desires.

There's plenty still to do, since anyone invotating can outdo the public option, and make some extra money for their effort. While, at the same time, no one has to be quite as dragged down by an aunt with failing health who cannot work, anymore.

And any mega corporations that try to force everyone into closed lousy situations have to at least compete with the public option.

Of course, any mega corporations allowed to thrive will immediately try to kill off public options, which we do already see happen.

[–] Godwins_Law 3 points 9 hours ago

I don't fully agree with whom you're arguing with. But I will point out we've seen many markets and producers like eggs or rent - Colluding to raise prices in a similar manner.