Welcome to the Hardcore Husky Forums. Folks who are well-known in Cyberland and not that dumb.

Break up Big Tech?

RaceBannon
RaceBannon Member, Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 114,108 Founders Club
https://huffpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-amazon-google-facebook_n_5c827b6ae4b0d93616273346

en. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) unveiled a plan Friday morning to promote competition in the tech sector by breaking up tech giants including Amazon, Google and Facebook.

“Today’s big tech companies have too much power  ―  too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy. They’ve bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field against everyone else,” Warren wrote in a post published on Medium.

“I want a government that makes sure everybody ― even the biggest and most powerful companies in America ― plays by the rules. And I want to make sure that the next generation of great American tech companies can flourish,” she continued. “To do that, we need to stop this generation of big tech companies from throwing around their political power to shape the rules in their favor and throwing around their economic power to snuff out or buy up every potential competitor.”

Warren is proposing “two major steps,” she said. The first would be passing legislation that designates certain large tech platforms as utilities that “would be prohibited from owning both the platform utility and any participants on that platform.” The second would be appointing regulators that would “unwind anti-competitive mergers,” like Amazon and Whole Foods, and Facebook and Instagram.


Interesting because big tech is on the left and works to her advantage. Props for taking a stand that could work against her I guess

The Feds broke up Standard Oil, Ma Bell among others so there is precedent but I'm not ready to abandon the free market on this just yet

@oregonblitzkrieg
«1

Comments

  • 2001400ex
    2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457
    Fuck that. There's still enough competition in big tech, it's not like there's only one search engine, only one social media platform, only one place to buy goods.

    The reason to break up companies is because no competition leads to higher prices and no innovation. We still have competitive prices and tons of innovation.
  • MikeDamone
    MikeDamone Member Posts: 37,781

    These god damn low prices and excellent service are killing us!

    Go out and support your local businesses!1!
    Fuck those guys
  • SFGbob
    SFGbob Member Posts: 33,183

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Brilliant point.
  • jecornel
    jecornel Member Posts: 9,737
    Stop using google! Dump your phone! Get off social media!! You show'em!!!
  • GrundleStiltzkin
    GrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    SFGbob said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Brilliant point.
    Sadly, it's not brilliant. It should be self-evident.
  • HHusky
    HHusky Member Posts: 23,972
    2001400ex said:

    Fuck that. There's still enough competition in big tech, it's not like there's only one search engine, only one social media platform, only one place to buy goods.

    The reason to break up companies is because no competition leads to higher prices and no innovation. We still have competitive prices and tons of innovation.

    Big tech engages in multiple anti-competitive behaviors. Whether they are broken up or simply restrained from those behaviors is a choice that can be legitimately debated.
  • HHusky
    HHusky Member Posts: 23,972

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
  • UW_Doog_Bot
    UW_Doog_Bot Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 18,184 Founders Club
    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
  • 2001400ex
    2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    I know that makes a nice headline. But it's almost like health Care and tech businesses are completely different things.
  • GrundleStiltzkin
    GrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    2001400ex said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    I know that makes a nice headline. But it's almost like health Care and tech businesses are completely different things.
    You mean like Bell, Standard Oil and Microsoft?

    What's your poont?
  • jecornel
    jecornel Member Posts: 9,737
    I am just so relieved we have hondo, maritoto and allpurp working so hard to make the world a better place fighting for the little guy. Warms my heart.
  • 2001400ex
    2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457
    edited March 2019

    2001400ex said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    I know that makes a nice headline. But it's almost like health Care and tech businesses are completely different things.
    You mean like Bell, Standard Oil and Microsoft?

    What's your poont?
    Those businesses had similar traits that made the government want to break them up. So I'm not sure how they come into the conversation of Government run medical insurance.
  • GrundleStiltzkin
    GrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    2001400ex said:

    2001400ex said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    I know that makes a nice headline. But it's almost like health Care and tech businesses are completely different things.
    You mean like Bell, Standard Oil and Microsoft?

    What's your poont?
    Those businesses had similar traits that made the government want to break them up. So I'm not sure how they come into the conversation of Government run medical insurance.
    You said, "health Care and tech businesses."
  • Sledog
    Sledog Member Posts: 37,858 Standard Supporter
    jecornel said:

    I am just so relieved we have hondo, maritoto and allpurp working so hard to make the world a better place fighting for the little guy. Warms my heart.

    But do they send any of their own money?
  • HHusky
    HHusky Member Posts: 23,972

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
  • GrundleStiltzkin
    GrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    HHusky said:

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
    Holy fuck. I'm surprised I'm surprised.
  • 2001400ex
    2001400ex Member Posts: 29,457

    2001400ex said:

    2001400ex said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    I know that makes a nice headline. But it's almost like health Care and tech businesses are completely different things.
    You mean like Bell, Standard Oil and Microsoft?

    What's your poont?
    Those businesses had similar traits that made the government want to break them up. So I'm not sure how they come into the conversation of Government run medical insurance.
    You said, "health Care and tech businesses."
    Yes, managing health Care is different than deciding whether a tech business is a monopoly. And?
  • UW_Doog_Bot
    UW_Doog_Bot Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 18,184 Founders Club
    HHusky said:

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
    First point) What do you base this assumption on? What evidence do you have that a state monopoly is either more efficient or different from a private monopoly?

    Second related point) Why do you think a state monopoly doesn't also suppress innovation?
  • HHusky
    HHusky Member Posts: 23,972

    HHusky said:

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
    First point) What do you base this assumption on? What evidence do you have that a state monopoly is either more efficient or different from a private monopoly?

    Second related point) Why do you think a state monopoly doesn't also suppress innovation?
    I was comparing a state monopoly to the private sector. One source for medical reimbursement is markedly more efficient than multiple sources. Medicare is very efficient, for example. Canadian doctors don’t have to devote huge layers of administration to getting paid.

    A state monopoly could suppress innovation, though its motivation to do so is much more diffuse. And We the People could eliminate a state monopoly that no longer served its purpose. We’ve done so at times with mixed results.
  • dhdawg
    dhdawg Member Posts: 13,326

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    only in America are these 2 things seen as even close to the same.
  • GrundleStiltzkin
    GrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    dhdawg said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    only in America are these 2 things seen as even close to the same.
    Is that supposed to pejorative?
  • jecornel
    jecornel Member Posts: 9,737

    HHusky said:

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
    First point) What do you base this assumption on? What evidence do you have that a state monopoly is either more efficient or different from a private monopoly?

    Second related point) Why do you think a state monopoly doesn't also suppress innovation?
    Third related point - How is a government bureaucracy/monopoly able to deliver lower cost and more customer centric services than a for profit company in a competitive environment?
    Damone! So many big words. Are you trying to sound smart or just pandering for upvotes??!!

    Imagine caring about this!!
  • HHusky
    HHusky Member Posts: 23,972
    edited March 2019

    HHusky said:

    HHusky said:

    Opposes alleged tech monopolies.
    Supports single-payer healthcare.

    Opposing private monopolies and supporting public monopolies aren’t in conflict.
    Go on, elaborate.
    Many things are done more efficiently through a state monopoly or a state granted monopoly than by a lightly regulated market. Single payer is markedly more efficient than what we have now.

    A private monopoly may be highly efficient and provide a good value to the customer, but the price we pay may also be measured in the suppression of competition by other innovators. Innovation being a hallmark of capitalism, you must agree that suppressing innovation isn’t good for our society.
    First point) What do you base this assumption on? What evidence do you have that a state monopoly is either more efficient or different from a private monopoly?

    Second related point) Why do you think a state monopoly doesn't also suppress innovation?
    Third related point - How is a government bureaucracy/monopoly able to deliver lower cost and more customer centric services than a for profit company in a competitive environment?
    Is that a commentary on the competitive environment health insurance companies currently operate in? Because single payer is demonstrably more efficient than what is going on in the US right now.