"Businessmen favor free enterprise in general but are opposed to it when it comes to themselves." -- Milton Friedman
this post was submitted on 20 May 2024
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This is why he wants 25% of tesla so badly
Free markets for me but not for thee
This is how all capitalist markets progress, which is why I get annoyed when folks try to talk about this as though it is hypocritical. There is nothing hypocritical about a capitalist attempting to stifle innovation and competition for the advancement of their own personal wealth. This is what capitalism is about.
I agree that's it's a "hate the game, not the player". The issue is how much influence he could have to steer the market to favor his product vs. the competition. It's happened so many times in history where the better product fails because they can't play the game like the inferior company.
To quote "Pirates of Silicon Valley":
Steve Jobs: We're better than you are! We have better stuff.
Bill Gates: You don't get it, Steve. That doesn't matter!
So is it fair for the consumer for big companies to be able to influence the game itself and not just play within the same rules? I'd say no.
I don’t think you’re really addressing my comment, which is just a criticism of how folks write about these “hypocrisies.”
Of course it’s not fair; that’s the entire foundational pillar on which capitalism rests. I’m not saying “hate the game, not the player”. Rather I’m saying the game is bullshit and the player should have his balls kicked with steel toed boot repeatedly.
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Part of the free-market attitude though is that you should be allowed to buy policy, so in that regard it's consistent, you just have to account for corruption in the cost of doing business.
'Mericuh fuck yeah!