"right-wing voters have come to recognize that corporate power is a threat to liberty."
Corporate monopolies have grown as powerful as governments. A democratic government cannot censor speech but the Big Tech government sure can. Libertarians who traditionally only challenge government power have a dilemna - the threat to liberty is coming more and more from monopoly corporations (and in some cases from the Communist China which pulls their strings). Centralized and unaccountable authoritarian power is a threat to individual liberty no matter where it comes from.
Matt - I have to give you credit for trying - but it seems that anybody who promises "cheap, free, and easy" makes folk's eyes light up and brains turn off - Amazon has mastered this - that is Bezos' "genius"
Suggestion: if your videos are going to be 'co-hosts' briefly speaking to us 'guys' before Matt basically reads us his usual essay (always good, btw), then why the need for video? From what I can see, the co-hosts here are as useful as 3 of the 5 'analysts' used for NFL games, and the use of video adds nothing to the message. Videos like these are usually for folks who are either unable to write or too lazy to write, neither of which is the case with Matt. I bailed after 90 seconds.
Feb 9, 2022·edited Feb 9, 2022Liked by Matt Stoller
I dropped this on the YT vid comments, but I think it's more appropriate here...
You have a real skill at doing pieces like this Matt; I hope you keep it up.
*******
Please don't shout me down, but I have a different perspective.
Amazon had invested gazillions in infrastructure and market positioning to be in the forefront of my mind as a consumer w/Prime. Plus, you mentioned that they move 60% or > in all online purchases.
How different is what Amazon is doing today than what Sam Walton did to major brands back in the 80's? He'd hammer sales VP's from Nabisco to Fishsher-Price for flying 1st class to Arkansas for a sit down instead of taking coach as a strategy for getting lower prices. His carrot? That he would get the consumers in the door.
Nobody was talking much about Wal-Mart's evisceration of Main Street back in the 80's/ early 90's; nobody said squat about Chinese imports shuttering factories across the USA/ Canada. But now? Not so much- it's the 'normal' we had to get used to.
These vendors, through AMZ's keyword targeting are able to find consumers of their product in the most efficient way; instead of doing mass marketing they're able to target specific consumers AT THE MOMENT when they want to buy.
"You say potato, I say potatoe, you say monopoly, I say efficiency"
I REFUSE to sell on Amazon. And when people ask why we charge for shipping, I like to educate. And if my store doesn't make it online, then I will do something else before I sell on Amazon.
I started using Amazon only after I injured my back and couldn't drive to stores. It was really helpful and alternatives were not as well developed (ethnic markets, though I ordered from some as well, even paying shipping, had terribly complicated websites). For WF I used Instacart and would get free shipping sometimes by buying a promotional item. This disappeared after Amazon bought them. The grocery store two blocks away from didn't offer delivery at the time. They do now, but I don't need it, but I looked at their website and it's not very well done. So Amazon really filled in a niche for people with disabilities.
But most important: To be competitive, other sellers very much need to improve their websites, separate of shipping!
(I wasn't on disability aid, because I wanted to work, even though I was in insane pain, so I didn't know about options for people who are disabled to get to stores, etc. But even so, when you're in pain and it's difficult to move, it's much easier for things to be brought to you. So this is something that needs to be taken into consideration: delivery for people with motility issues.)
Excellent video. I do think Amazon is reaching a tipping point, with or without the success of the antitrust suit (which is long overdue). The imminent increase (again) for Prime membership, combined with almost routine higher prices for goods on Amazon, often expired or counterfeit 3rd party products, and the incessant push for Amazon-branded products makes Amazon increasingly less appetizing to consumers. Re audio, it's a 'yes' vote from me.
I agree 100% that Amazon is a monopoly, and antitrust action needs to happen. I'm not sure what the remedy looks like, but the status quo is not fair to either sellers or consumers.
One nitpick I'd like to have is that "free shipping" isn't necessarily a bad thing, if it weren't for Amazon being a monopoly that makes it nearly impossible to compete. I'd like to think of it as "inclusive pricing". Likewise, I'd like to see prices posted reflect sales tax, service fees (including at restaurants -- include the service fee in the price of the product instead of tipping), etc.
My big thing is that seeing a price listed without seeing all of the fees, taxes, etc. makes it much harder to comparison shop, and much harder to figure out what I want to spend. If everyone had inclusive pricing, I could trust that when I was shopping, I wouldn't suddenly have a bill that was twice as much as I was expecting when I went to the checkout flow. That would be a pro-consumer move -- have the full price of purchasing the item included.
And despite my dislike of Amazon as a company, this is why I shop there when I need something quick -- I can look at a price, know that's what I'm actually going to pay, then complete the transaction.
"right-wing voters have come to recognize that corporate power is a threat to liberty."
Corporate monopolies have grown as powerful as governments. A democratic government cannot censor speech but the Big Tech government sure can. Libertarians who traditionally only challenge government power have a dilemna - the threat to liberty is coming more and more from monopoly corporations (and in some cases from the Communist China which pulls their strings). Centralized and unaccountable authoritarian power is a threat to individual liberty no matter where it comes from.
Matt - I have to give you credit for trying - but it seems that anybody who promises "cheap, free, and easy" makes folk's eyes light up and brains turn off - Amazon has mastered this - that is Bezos' "genius"
Definitely audio! I work staring at my screen all day. Plus I can listen while enjoying a walk!
In summary -- MONOPOLY POWER...
Thank you Matt, for what you do.
Suggestion: if your videos are going to be 'co-hosts' briefly speaking to us 'guys' before Matt basically reads us his usual essay (always good, btw), then why the need for video? From what I can see, the co-hosts here are as useful as 3 of the 5 'analysts' used for NFL games, and the use of video adds nothing to the message. Videos like these are usually for folks who are either unable to write or too lazy to write, neither of which is the case with Matt. I bailed after 90 seconds.
Judges are getting angry, but can they effectively stop it...and if so, for how much longer?
Yes to audio!
I dropped this on the YT vid comments, but I think it's more appropriate here...
You have a real skill at doing pieces like this Matt; I hope you keep it up.
*******
Please don't shout me down, but I have a different perspective.
Amazon had invested gazillions in infrastructure and market positioning to be in the forefront of my mind as a consumer w/Prime. Plus, you mentioned that they move 60% or > in all online purchases.
How different is what Amazon is doing today than what Sam Walton did to major brands back in the 80's? He'd hammer sales VP's from Nabisco to Fishsher-Price for flying 1st class to Arkansas for a sit down instead of taking coach as a strategy for getting lower prices. His carrot? That he would get the consumers in the door.
Nobody was talking much about Wal-Mart's evisceration of Main Street back in the 80's/ early 90's; nobody said squat about Chinese imports shuttering factories across the USA/ Canada. But now? Not so much- it's the 'normal' we had to get used to.
These vendors, through AMZ's keyword targeting are able to find consumers of their product in the most efficient way; instead of doing mass marketing they're able to target specific consumers AT THE MOMENT when they want to buy.
"You say potato, I say potatoe, you say monopoly, I say efficiency"
Yes to audio. I like being able to listen to articles. American Prospect offers this option.
I REFUSE to sell on Amazon. And when people ask why we charge for shipping, I like to educate. And if my store doesn't make it online, then I will do something else before I sell on Amazon.
I started using Amazon only after I injured my back and couldn't drive to stores. It was really helpful and alternatives were not as well developed (ethnic markets, though I ordered from some as well, even paying shipping, had terribly complicated websites). For WF I used Instacart and would get free shipping sometimes by buying a promotional item. This disappeared after Amazon bought them. The grocery store two blocks away from didn't offer delivery at the time. They do now, but I don't need it, but I looked at their website and it's not very well done. So Amazon really filled in a niche for people with disabilities.
But most important: To be competitive, other sellers very much need to improve their websites, separate of shipping!
(I wasn't on disability aid, because I wanted to work, even though I was in insane pain, so I didn't know about options for people who are disabled to get to stores, etc. But even so, when you're in pain and it's difficult to move, it's much easier for things to be brought to you. So this is something that needs to be taken into consideration: delivery for people with motility issues.)
I keep thinking of the "emotional damage" TikTok sound but instead with "monopoly power"
Yes to audio !!
Excellent video. I do think Amazon is reaching a tipping point, with or without the success of the antitrust suit (which is long overdue). The imminent increase (again) for Prime membership, combined with almost routine higher prices for goods on Amazon, often expired or counterfeit 3rd party products, and the incessant push for Amazon-branded products makes Amazon increasingly less appetizing to consumers. Re audio, it's a 'yes' vote from me.
I agree 100% that Amazon is a monopoly, and antitrust action needs to happen. I'm not sure what the remedy looks like, but the status quo is not fair to either sellers or consumers.
One nitpick I'd like to have is that "free shipping" isn't necessarily a bad thing, if it weren't for Amazon being a monopoly that makes it nearly impossible to compete. I'd like to think of it as "inclusive pricing". Likewise, I'd like to see prices posted reflect sales tax, service fees (including at restaurants -- include the service fee in the price of the product instead of tipping), etc.
My big thing is that seeing a price listed without seeing all of the fees, taxes, etc. makes it much harder to comparison shop, and much harder to figure out what I want to spend. If everyone had inclusive pricing, I could trust that when I was shopping, I wouldn't suddenly have a bill that was twice as much as I was expecting when I went to the checkout flow. That would be a pro-consumer move -- have the full price of purchasing the item included.
And despite my dislike of Amazon as a company, this is why I shop there when I need something quick -- I can look at a price, know that's what I'm actually going to pay, then complete the transaction.