• Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net
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    1 month ago

    I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: the endgame of a capitalist system are monopolies or cartels.

    Usually it takes the following steps:

    1. Bunch of little start-up - everyone wants a piece of the pie

    2. Some start-ups can’t hack it and either go under or are absorbed by other start-ups

    3. Surviving start-ups grow to mid-size of major sized ventures depending on how many competitors or competitor market shares they absorbed

    4. Repeat step 2 with remainder of companies until a few are left

    Presto changeo you got yourself a cartel or monopoly. Consumer power is nil.

    Example sectors to look at for this: food production industry, mining, computing/silicon Valley

    • dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Silicon Valley. Silicone Valley would be something… different. You might find that in Nevada someplace, around Las Vegas.

      • Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net
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        1 month ago

        While I am roasting you in this meme, you legit had a good catch. Thanks for that. Autocorrect, I guess.

        I’m just pointing out Cunningham’s law lol. Never fails

      • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        AT&T is about the size of T-Mobile and Verizon

        So, AT&T, the Deutsche tel / pacNWBell fka AT&T Frankenstein, and Bell Atlantic fka AT&T

        They’re all AT&T except for the part of Pac NW Bell AT&T that got bought by, essentially, German AT&T.

        I want to believe they don’t collude and perform, but I’ve lived in Canada and seen the decades-long dance between Rogers(fka Shaw fka AGTel + BCTel) and Rogers(Rogers) before they became just Rogers.

        And now I’m sure that was all founded on a sugar empire.

        But our major players have been dancing around each other for a long time before one bought the other – and I’m sure it’s just to save on Green Fees at the club because it’s not one corporate rate.

    • Lettuce eat lettuce@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      100% true. Capitalist firms will always be motivated to get the most people possible, to pay as much as possible, for as little as possible.

    • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      In 2, there’s generally no difference whether they go under or not. If they had anything valuable when they went under, it’s absorbed by a competitor. Machines, labor, etc.