So I've been thinking, should businesses be allowed to buy out other businesses? I know that sounds a bit odd to question, especially as a free market advocate, but consider the goal of capitalism to be the creation and maintenance of perfectly competitive markets. Again, this is the goal of capitalism, not corporations, from a societal standpoint. As such, diversification of markets is essential, meaning consolidation directly moves the markets away from their goal competitiveness.
There is the thought process of considering corporations as states. See, if a corporation is able to determine their own terms of service and act independently, and then they can determine both the conduct of their employees and customers. If they grow large enough, they can buy out companies and force their terms onto those prior competitors. This also applies to companies in other markets. See, governments tend to get in the way when companies buy other companies within the same markets to the point where they can potentially become monopolies (though this is in theory and not really practices, when you look at markets like cell service where, in a basically 4 man show between AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, T-Mobile was able to merge with Sprint) so there is theoretically monopoly protection there; however, companies, as shown with Big Tech, can invest into virtually as many companies as they want that are considered "out of market" for them. In this way, they can extend their terms and conditions across multiple markets, and, with enough scale, can influence everyone within a country, or, potentially, the world. The companies terms become the law of their services, and there are no lawyers within that system. Unless they break local law, there is nothing you can do, and the contract is one sided, as the user gets no say in the creation, implementation, or updating of the terms of service. With enough scale, a corporation's influence can become a societal norm, and to not utilize any of their services, or to be banned from them, would effectively be a black mark on your "social credit".
Now, I am not saying we are at this point by any means. However, despite peoples frequent complaints about Facebook, I was often met with surprise and a bit of a weird look when I mentioned actually deleting mine to my friends. That "Oh, that's weird" or "Oh, you can do that?" type of response. Purely anecdotal, but I think it states to the influence that some companies have over culture. As these companies continue to grow outward, and avoid the claims of monopoly thanks to their maintenance of each other as "competitors", their influence can grow more and more rapidly. Alphabet themselves make enough money every day to buy up multiple start-ups that have the potential for growth in new markets.
Anyhow, I was just considering some thoughts on the topic of business influence, and businesses growing their power beyond their immediate product. I feel as though there needs to be a curb to prevent markets from losing their freedom. Especially in the wake of what happened to Parler, and the continued cultural alienation of right leaning groups, activists, and even laymen, I feel there is a consideration to free markets that may not have been so considered when establishing our philosophy on what makes a market free. The power of a single institution now can wield the financial and social influence of a small country, or even the social influence of a large one, if not more, and that can effectively remove the freedom from the markets themselves
Just thought I'd share this comment I was trying to comment on a Lotus Eaters video. Btw, ya'll should follow the Podcast of the Lotus Eaters if you aren't already. Great analysis and discussion
It's been a while since I've made a video, and this time with a locals exclusive. A cherry on top that I managed to fit within the size requirements. I like making shorter form content like this, considering my tendencies to ramble. Having content exclusive for my followers here is something I'll be working on doing more and more. I'll be creating more value here for my subscribers as well, with some subscriber exclusive content in the future. No timeline promises, cause I think we know how I get when I make a ton of promises (go hardcore for a week and then fall flat on my face unable to keep up with the sprint, lol).
Anyhow, let me know your thoughts and questions below. Have a great day everyone!
A direct upload! It turns out I recorded a video just short enough to meet the minimum upload offerings that locals offers to small communities like mine. That means you guys get this exclusively on locals!
I didn't sleep much last night, so I decided this was the perfect time to mull over my confused thoughts on how businesses are viewed from a legal perspective. Businesses are somewhat legal enigmas to me. Corporations are kinda treated as persons so that they can be double taxed, but have other protections, other types of businesses aren't treated the same way. They're able to consolidate power like governments, yet aren't subject to any form of limitations in regards to violating natural rights the same way the government is, despite being treated somewhat like persons they can still buy each other. It's just very odd to me from a principled, legal, and philosophical position.
Anyhow, my ramblings here are just that, ramblings. Still, I am curious what you all think of this topic. ...
The 2020 election is over, and the battle has just begun. What do I expect to come from the end of the election? Will the legal suits turn over anything for this election, or will they mean something for later down the line? I reflect on these questions and more in this discussion, and I also reflect on some final thoughts relevant to the Rise and Fall of Empire Series, that, thus far, being episodes 8 through 10 of the Construct Cast. Let me know your thoughts, and if you have any reflections of your own from this year's political cycle or other developments that you can't seem to get off your mind in the comments below.
In this episode of the Construct Cast, I discuss my analysis of Sir John Glubb's The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival, with an emphasis on my own consideration for what it would take to help an empire survive, or reboot. If immortality for an Empire is impossible, is rebirth impossible in the same way? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Editor's Note: Returning to the podcast versions of the Construct Cast, I want to catch our content up to the videos we have had released over the past month. I apologize for this getting away from me for a bit. With the rise in content production, I had allowed this to get away from me. We will be returning to audio podcast uploads of the Construct Cast as per our original regular schedule, at 12PM EST on the day of the original upload, going forward.
In this second Crossover podcast, we are once again recording with Kevin @Eng_Politics. His channel is a bastion of political thought and analysis from the perspective of a conservative engineer. Interested in diving deeper into my concept of Progressive Traditionalism and combating the concept with his own beliefs of what it means to be Conservative, we decided to put our definitions and beliefs to task in this crossover episode!
Be sure to check out Kevin's locals community here:
https://engineeringpolitics.locals.com/
And if you're more interested in the video version, here is a direct link:
https://engineeringpolitics.locals.com/post/235260/the-engineering-politics-podcast-30-conservatism-vs-progressive-traditionalism
So I just confirmed that, after a year off of the Keto diet, my Ulcerative Colitis (a type of IBS) is still not only in remission, but seemingly cured as if it never was there, including no more polyp growth.
This self-experiment has shown me that a prolonged period on Keto, about 2 years for me, was enough to create the long lasting effects to repair and cure my gastrointestinal system to complete recovery from what was supposed to be a lifelong, incurable illness. I still have a minor level proctitus at the exit, to put it in the least gross way I can think, but with the rest actually fully cured to where my new GI doctor asked if I was misdiagnosed originally is a major accomplishment.
For those seeking a source on how to get here like I did, I recommend following Thomas Delaur's YouTube channel for general inflammation control/healthy keto/ workout advice, only eat meat that is 100% Grass fed and pasture raised (including eggs), and drink a glass of Kefir at least once a week. Good ...
Controversial capitalist take, but I personally don't think stock ownership should give any power to the stockholders over business decisions. Buyouts and ownership should be separate from stock investment. How? There are various options to discuss. Why? Theoretically an investment firm could invest ownership stakes into every major investment firm over time and concentrate all of their investments to own controlling stakes across entire industries or even all publicly traded companies.
Actually, this isn't so theoretical if you look at BlackRock's partnerships with Vanguard and State Street. The three companies operate in virtual lockstep and theoretically wouldn't even need 51% collective ownership in the companies they invest in because any company with an array of other investors should have some theoretical minimum that they can guarantee will follow the leadership of these big 3 in most cases. I've seen estimates that they only need a collective 35% share to all but guarantee any ...
