Adam Smith discussed the harms caused by monopolies in the frequently, ritualistically cited book, The Wealth of Nations. The progressive politics of the end of the 19th century and into the beginning of the 20th was marked by a deep reaction to the monopolistic practices of large companies then. This led to the ant-trust legislation…
Category: economy
economy, free-market ideology
The New Digital Monopoly Capitalism
The new digital economy is displaying the same drive to concentration, monopolies and oligopolies, that capitalism has always displayed. Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft are just a new face of the predatory monopolists of the Rockefeller Standard Oil age.
economy, free-market ideology
Structure of Jobs Is Changing Rapidly – Political System Failing to Address Issue
Shifts to contract work, losses in jobs due to automation and robots, growth in poorly paid occupations, low participation rates, healthcare and retirement tied to full-time jobs, and extremely unequal gains in income for the top 10% characterize jobs in our economy. Something radical needs to be done. Republicans are trickling, Democrats cautious, neither addresses the big changes underway.
economy
Recently Noted – the future of bitcoin and blockchain technologies – UPDATED
UPDATE: IBM does blockchain….Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies are subject to the same control by the rich and corporations as our existing financial and business sectors. These technologies are embedded in the socio-economic structures of capitalism. Concentrations of power dominate the existing capitalist world and they will dominate these new “disruptive” technology entrants.
economy, free-market ideology
A Note on Jobs & Unemployment – revised
A Note on Jobs & Unemployment Original publication date – 12/27/2016; Revised – 12/31/2017 As the presidential campaign of 2016 fades away and the Trump Era begins, we find a national scene without any real discussion of the facts of jobs and unemployment and what the future might bring. Trump and others talk about bringing…
economy, family, inequality, Recently Noted
Recently Noted – A journey through a land of extreme poverty: welcome to America by Ed Pilkington
At a time when the Republicans are transferring income and wealth to the rich and corporations over 40 million Americans fall below the official poverty line.
economy, politics
Deficits, Deficits – the rhetoric of the forthcoming attacks on the poor
Republicans Create Bigger Deficits Then Blame The Entitled Poor. Cuts to social programs coming to fix the Republican created deficit problem.
economy, free-market ideology, Recently Noted
Recently Noted: World Inequality Report 2018 – findings and policies
Inequality in wealth and income is a continuing global crisis. The World Inequality Report 2018 defines the problem based on wealth ownership and the transfer of public wealth into private hands. Their are solutions but they require political organization and will.
economy, Recently Noted
Recently Noted – “Millions of professional drivers will be replaced…..” – NBC News
The shape of jobs in the US and around the world it’s changing rapidly. On 11/5/2017 NBC News reported: Self-driving trucks One year ago this week a truck rolled into history as it traveled from a Colorado brewing plant to a warehouse 120 miles away carrying 45,000 cans of Budweiser beer. The early morning run was…
economy
US Corporate Taxes Higher Than Rest of World?
We are hearing from Republicans that American corporate tax rates are the highest in the world. The tax rate on the books is in fact higher than most. But, the amount of taxes paid by American corporations is not. It is inline with other wealthy countries.