this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2024
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politics

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(page 2) 42 comments
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[–] paf0@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (8 children)

I mean... Price control is kinda anti-capitalist, he's not wrong.

And no I will not vote for Donald Trump.

[–] DMBFFF@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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

This is why I don't buy whatever crap that Trump flogs or for that matter tic tacs.

[–] paf0@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

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 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Price controls could lead to shortages, which is reportedly common in Communist countries—which I'll concede to Trump;

however, Trump is hardly better with his flogging crap, the encouragement of stupidity, the anti-science, and the tariffs—why do Trump supporters—presumably a vast majority being consumers—support tariffs, quotas, and seem indifferent to IP ("intellectual property") 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.

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

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Price controls could lead to shortages

Nope. That's just the line the profiteers feed the most gullible of their victims so they'll defend their corrupt practices.

which is reportedly common in Communist countries

You know what'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 I'll concede to Trump

Well that's just stupid and unnecessary. It's not like he has a point or anything. he's just throwing buzzwords at the board and seeing if any sticks

why do Trump supporters—presumably a vast majority being consumers—support tariffs, quotas, and seem indifferent to IP ("intellectual property") 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 shouldn't be necessary: I'm not a communist or in favor of communism. It's far too authoritarian, inflexible, and unprepared for when the real world doesn't correspond with theory.

Perhaps price controls for basics are needed

No "perhaps" about it. The profiteers have demonstrated that they will always raise prices when not forced not to, far beyond their customers' ability to survive in the long run. It'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 there's no systemic incentive to profiteering.

We're not getting there within any of our lifetimes, if ever, though, so let'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 they're necessary to reduce a pandemic of standardized plundering of the poor. Call it socialism or don't, just get that boot off my neck.

then again, Trump is kinda right here.

Nope. Not even kinda. He doesn'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. He'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 he's right about literally anything, he got there by accident.

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[–] paf0@lemmy.world -2 points 2 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.

[–] tburkhol@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I need to eat every day whether it's profitable for Jim Perdue or not. Capitalism is a terrible way to run food distribution or healthcare.

[–] paf0@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Socialism doesn't breed innovation. We need UBI.

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[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The problem is that it's anti free market.
You can make regulation for standards of quality and transparency, and regulation against unfair business practices and monopolies.
These things stimulate fair competition, and help consumers make good choices. Which generally result in fair value for consumers.
But you can't dictate prices, it never works and it has been tried many times in many countries, and every time the result is shortage of the price regulated items.

If the price is set so low there are no profits, the goods simply disappear from the market. Nobody wants to work for free.
If the price is set high enough for companies to still profit, it has little or no effect in a competitive market anyway, and is unnecessary.
It might even keep prices higher, because the industry sees it as a floor they don't need to go under, and it works like a cartel price setting.

[–] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

We don't have a true free market anyhow. Corn subsidies (among other policies) anyone?

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

A market can never be truly free, it needs to be regulated to work. Sometimes subsidies are needed to prevent possible shortages from year to year.
Subsidies are not to promote a free market, but to secure production.

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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Price control is kinda anti-capitalist, he’s not wrong.

It's authoritarian, but still very capitalist in function. The state is regulating the rate at which you can raise prices, not who profits from the sales.

And no I will not vote for Donald Trump.

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the decision. In the end, I predict this election will be decided 6-3.

[–] paf0@lemmy.world -3 points 2 months ago (5 children)

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the decision. In the end, I predict this election will be decided 6-3.

Only if they agree to hear the case. I'm not sure ACB or Gorsuch like him as much as people think. The elections are run by the states. Unless a super close Florida Bush/Gore situation happens I doubt it will even reach the SC.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The elections are run by the states.

Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia all have Republican governors.

[–] MrTomS@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

NC governor is a Democrat (and was on Harris's short list for VP)

While the legislature is Republican run our AG & Secretary of State are both Democrats and it will be quite difficult for Republicans to gum up the election I'm sure they will try though

[–] paf0@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Didn't they also last time?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago

Trump openly conspired with Georgia election officials to try and flip the race. That's a big part of the list of indictments against him.

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[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Communism would do much more.

[–] DMBFFF@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Where has it done more?

[–] MediaBiasFactChecker@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago

Daily Telegraph (UK) - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)Information for Daily Telegraph (UK):

MBFC: Right - Credibility: Medium - Factual Reporting: Mixed - United Kingdom
Wikipedia about this source

Search topics on Ground.Newshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/08/16/harris-lower-grocery-prices-trump-brands-policy-communist/
Media Bias Fact Check | bot support

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth -2 points 2 months ago

Ride is late, had time to watch the video. Salient points. https://youtu.be/iWf7PPhGGCM

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