It's been a year since I took this newsletter paid. One thing I've learned is that this community matters. Plus, spies and monopolies, and consolidation in premium car audio systems.
When I tell friends what Matt writes about, they often mention an item they can only get from one company. And at an exorbitant cost. Many items are medical items. It’s shocking how often this occurs. Thank you Matt.
I have been sitting on a question, can you help me with it? Here it is:
If you look at the BEA.gov page, Table 6.16D, Corporate Profits, you'll see that "Non-financial corporations" (line 13) record the gain in profits from Q1 2020 to Q2 2022 (27 months) as a 73% gain, an increase of $947 billion in new profits (from $1,290 to $2.237 billion). Dividing $947 billion among 130 million households, it's an increase of $7,286 per household of expenses. At the 40th percentile of household income, the income is $55,000, and an added $7,238 in expenses is an increase of 13%. How do 40% of American households afford this added expense?
And this relates also to --
But I think there is a "piling on" phenomenon, the mind-set is "If company X can charge so much, then we at Company Y can almost match that." The theory that companies are competing for the lowest price is false -- and that would be a stupendous admission of failure in our "free market" and "efficient market" theories. That's a rather depressing idea, but it may have truth in extraordinary circumstances, especially post-pandemic times. -- Is this really old news, have you explained this elsewhere?
Oct 14, 2022·edited Oct 14, 2022Liked by Matt Stoller, Todd Mentch
When you went paid, I couldn't jump in fast enough. The work you do is so damn important, I'm happy that you're getting some traction and attention. Main Stream Media is fully in the bag for corporate America, and your efforts are so valuable in the fight.
It is totally awesome to have BIG. I am so better versed in understanding the world I live in and the issues we face having BIG. I am more than happy to pay the toll for the Newsletter. Your work is revolutionary, the same way that The Consumer Injury standard was revolutionary. We should not stop until anti trust enforcement is as routine as eating.
Crazy that Right-wingers such as myself and Sundance over at The Conservative Treehouse have now aligned with lefties like Matt and even far-lefties like Caitlin Johnstone. But that's a great thing!
Anyone else get auto-renewed without authorization? I had to unsubscribe to TRY to cancel the charge but that didn't work. It just unsubscribed me and said I won't be auto-renewed in 2023. What kind of scam is Substack running?
I first wrote this out when I subscribed to Big, and hope I didn’t send it to you before- it sounded too ‘preachy’ then, but it will answer why I think Big helps keep me from an existential insanity!
I was so relieved we had finally elected an individual who knew what a functioning president could do, but worried that none of the structural flaws in our democracy would be addressed.
We still call this a “democracy”, even though we're clearly a republic, where the empty, large land-states and corporate money has significantly more influence on electoral outcomes than the individual votes; and State Rights allows certain retrograde states to pass and maintain legislation that encourages or further entrenches racism, reduces human rights and actively fights against public health and safety. Life in the USA seems to be headed towards a world where soon you will either get a vote or be issued a gun- the great equalizer- to feel like a valid human being.
Big gave me my first inkling that there is an active tectonic sized lever- antitrust law-working to help us address these damages to our freedom and equality, to “to link their cause to an actual policy lever.” Thanks to Big, I am now able to better evaluate our current campaigning candidates and their views, and connect my experiences as a citizen “to the choices of those in our governing institutions.”
Your newsletter is the most informative and impactful newsletter that I read. My renewal is in January 2023, but I just changed my plan to a Founders Level. Can't wait to see what the future will bring for BIG.
Supporting smart movements / writers can be a good investment. I currently support BIG, LeverNews, and Color of Change because they are so successful. They return more than they cost. BIG is the more obvious because monopoly and money overlap so much.
My first payoff was Prop 105 in CA 20 plus years ago. An auto insurance restraining ballot measure. I contributed $500 - an outrageous amount. Except I figure I've saved $5,000 as a result. About 1 out of every 10,000 CA voters contributed. Think what voters could do if they realized they could sometimes be big winners.
To the subscribers who are not yet paying - no shame, but do think whether BIG is potentially REALLY BIG and you might be a part of that.
Pride is a rare feeling in life. Particularly online. I'm proud to be a part of this community.
Cheers to you, Matt.
And kudos to us all, IMHO.
When I tell friends what Matt writes about, they often mention an item they can only get from one company. And at an exorbitant cost. Many items are medical items. It’s shocking how often this occurs. Thank you Matt.
I have been sitting on a question, can you help me with it? Here it is:
If you look at the BEA.gov page, Table 6.16D, Corporate Profits, you'll see that "Non-financial corporations" (line 13) record the gain in profits from Q1 2020 to Q2 2022 (27 months) as a 73% gain, an increase of $947 billion in new profits (from $1,290 to $2.237 billion). Dividing $947 billion among 130 million households, it's an increase of $7,286 per household of expenses. At the 40th percentile of household income, the income is $55,000, and an added $7,238 in expenses is an increase of 13%. How do 40% of American households afford this added expense?
And this relates also to --
But I think there is a "piling on" phenomenon, the mind-set is "If company X can charge so much, then we at Company Y can almost match that." The theory that companies are competing for the lowest price is false -- and that would be a stupendous admission of failure in our "free market" and "efficient market" theories. That's a rather depressing idea, but it may have truth in extraordinary circumstances, especially post-pandemic times. -- Is this really old news, have you explained this elsewhere?
Just got my renewal notice yesterday. This is still one of the best investments I make. Keep up the good (and informative) work!
When you went paid, I couldn't jump in fast enough. The work you do is so damn important, I'm happy that you're getting some traction and attention. Main Stream Media is fully in the bag for corporate America, and your efforts are so valuable in the fight.
Is there a way I can PM you?
I’m happy to be a founding member, thank you for the content.
As a person trying to navigate life as an adult (thinking human), I feel your work makes the world a better place.
I’m now very aware of organic business growth as opposed to the kind we do not like because of BIG.
Thanks for your work to stop monopolies. Keep fighting!
It is totally awesome to have BIG. I am so better versed in understanding the world I live in and the issues we face having BIG. I am more than happy to pay the toll for the Newsletter. Your work is revolutionary, the same way that The Consumer Injury standard was revolutionary. We should not stop until anti trust enforcement is as routine as eating.
Crazy that Right-wingers such as myself and Sundance over at The Conservative Treehouse have now aligned with lefties like Matt and even far-lefties like Caitlin Johnstone. But that's a great thing!
There IS middle ground. Proof in point:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/10/14/major-merger-announced-kroger-and-albertsons-announce-merger-deal-worth-24-6-billion/
Anyone else get auto-renewed without authorization? I had to unsubscribe to TRY to cancel the charge but that didn't work. It just unsubscribed me and said I won't be auto-renewed in 2023. What kind of scam is Substack running?
Plate tectonics is such a great metaphor. Thanks again for your work.
I’m in a related part of the industry and as far as I know you need to go through either Harmon or Bose to get into car audio.
I enjoy the content. Keep up the good work!
Matt-
I first wrote this out when I subscribed to Big, and hope I didn’t send it to you before- it sounded too ‘preachy’ then, but it will answer why I think Big helps keep me from an existential insanity!
I was so relieved we had finally elected an individual who knew what a functioning president could do, but worried that none of the structural flaws in our democracy would be addressed.
We still call this a “democracy”, even though we're clearly a republic, where the empty, large land-states and corporate money has significantly more influence on electoral outcomes than the individual votes; and State Rights allows certain retrograde states to pass and maintain legislation that encourages or further entrenches racism, reduces human rights and actively fights against public health and safety. Life in the USA seems to be headed towards a world where soon you will either get a vote or be issued a gun- the great equalizer- to feel like a valid human being.
Big gave me my first inkling that there is an active tectonic sized lever- antitrust law-working to help us address these damages to our freedom and equality, to “to link their cause to an actual policy lever.” Thanks to Big, I am now able to better evaluate our current campaigning candidates and their views, and connect my experiences as a citizen “to the choices of those in our governing institutions.”
Your newsletter is the most informative and impactful newsletter that I read. My renewal is in January 2023, but I just changed my plan to a Founders Level. Can't wait to see what the future will bring for BIG.
Supporting smart movements / writers can be a good investment. I currently support BIG, LeverNews, and Color of Change because they are so successful. They return more than they cost. BIG is the more obvious because monopoly and money overlap so much.
My first payoff was Prop 105 in CA 20 plus years ago. An auto insurance restraining ballot measure. I contributed $500 - an outrageous amount. Except I figure I've saved $5,000 as a result. About 1 out of every 10,000 CA voters contributed. Think what voters could do if they realized they could sometimes be big winners.
To the subscribers who are not yet paying - no shame, but do think whether BIG is potentially REALLY BIG and you might be a part of that.
Regards to you all.
Keep up the great work. Best newsletter on Substack imo