• DMBFFF@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    The informed consumer is a great price control in the free market.

    This is why I donā€™t buy whatever crap that Trump flogs or for that matter tic tacs.

    • paf0@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The informed consumer is a great price control in the free market.

      What does that even mean? We all see prices rising.

      • DMBFFF@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Price controls could lead to shortages, which is reportedly common in Communist countriesā€”which Iā€™ll concede to Trump;

        however, Trump is hardly better with his flogging crap, the encouragement of stupidity, the anti-science, and the tariffsā€”why do Trump supportersā€”presumably a vast majority being consumersā€”support tariffs, quotas, and seem indifferent to IP (ā€œintellectual propertyā€) trolls and their lobbies? Why do they oppose abortion (and perhaps contraceptives) when fewer children means less need to purchase stuff?

        Perhaps price controls for basics are needed, but this is not the ideal; and if you support price controls because you favour socialism, then again, Trump is kinda right here.

        ā€‹

        note: if I was American, I would not vote for Trump or pretty well any Republican.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Price controls could lead to shortages

          Nope. Thatā€™s just the line the profiteers feed the most gullible of their victims so theyā€™ll defend their corrupt practices.

          which is reportedly common in Communist countries

          You know whatā€™s also common in nominally communist countries?

          Government corruption, wealth and power being concentrated in the hands of a few privileged people, and that privileged class tricking their victims into being their advocates.

          Exactly like capitalism in general, and especially US capitalism.

          which Iā€™ll concede to Trump

          Well thatā€™s just stupid and unnecessary. Itā€™s not like he has a point or anything. heā€™s just throwing buzzwords at the board and seeing if any sticks

          why do Trump supportersā€”presumably a vast majority being consumersā€”support tariffs, quotas, and seem indifferent to IP (ā€œintellectual propertyā€) trolls and their lobbies? Why do they oppose abortion (and perhaps contraceptives) when fewer children means less need to purchase stuff?

          For the same reason that you think price controls lead to shortages and that any country calling itself communist is an accurate representative of what communism is: lots of internalized propaganda.

          Disclaimer that shouldnā€™t be necessary: Iā€™m not a communist or in favor of communism. Itā€™s far too authoritarian, inflexible, and unprepared for when the real world doesnā€™t correspond with theory.

          Perhaps price controls for basics are needed

          No ā€œperhapsā€ about it. The profiteers have demonstrated that they will always raise prices when not forced not to, far beyond their customersā€™ ability to survive in the long run. Itā€™s long past time to make social murder illegal.

          but this is not the ideal

          No, the ideal is that all companies are worker owned co-ops so that the socially good and the fiscally good are inseparable so that thereā€™s no systemic incentive to profiteering.

          Weā€™re not getting there within any of our lifetimes, if ever, though, so letā€™s focus on what is already possible and necessary: price controls.

          if you support price controls because you favour socialism

          Nah, I support price controls because theyā€™re necessary to reduce a pandemic of standardized plundering of the poor. Call it socialism or donā€™t, just get that boot off my neck.

          then again, Trump is kinda right here.

          Nope. Not even kinda. He doesnā€™t know what communism is any more than he knows what asylum is, how to prevent forest fires, or how to deal with hurricanes.

          The man is a colossal idiot who happens to be tragically effective at self-promoting. Heā€™s also a fascist and the poster boy for malignant narcissism.

          You do not, under any circumstances ever, have to concede ANYTHING to him as, even on the incredibly rare occasion that heā€™s right about literally anything, he got there by accident.

          • Maeve@kbin.earth
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            4 months ago

            If necessities were socialized: clean, decent food, water, shelter, sustainable utilities, including internet, clean, safe, efficient public transportation, basic quality (durable, not hideous, well-made, well-fitting) clothing allowance, natural resources, clean air, land; and designer clothing, mansions, caviar, champagne, Bugattis, Fendi bags were capitalized, profits and capital, private holdings over a certain amount were taxed at 1950s rates of 93%, Iā€™d be completely fine with that.

        • paf0@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          We were talking about price controls, I failed to see how any of that well known stuff is related. Spend more time focusing on your own country.