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The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

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Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#11

Post by ddingus »

kjaftaedi wrote: post #8
PaulHoule wrote: post #3

In the last month it seems that Amazon has incessantly asked my opinion about every product and service I use (e.g. the store, Amazon Music, ...) My answer is always some variant of "I don't like the way you treat the help"

If you honestly don't like it though you should stop using their services, otherwise the message you are sending is that you care, but not really that much. I know I'm in the minority, but I stopped shopping with Amazon long ago, closed my audible account, and have slowly been migrating my current workplace off our/their AWS infrastructure. A handful of people have mentioned this is too much of a hardline stance, but…

To be frank, it all counts. Avoiding their services is one way, educating the public is another, speaking out is yet another, it all matters.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#12

Post by trenning »

kjaftaedi wrote: post #8
PaulHoule wrote: post #3

In the last month it seems that Amazon has incessantly asked my opinion about every product and service I use (e.g. the store, Amazon Music, ...) My answer is always some variant of "I don't like the way you treat the help"

If you honestly don't like it though you should stop using their services, otherwise the message you are sending is that you care, but not really that much. I know I'm in the minority, but I stopped shopping with Amazon long ago, closed my audible account, and have slowly been migrating my current workplace off our/their AWS infrastructure. A handful of people have mentioned this is too much of a hardline stance, but…

I really don't understand why people have such a hard time weening themselves off Amazon products.

It's not even like a physical constraint like having to drive a little further to a different store. Just visit a different website it's the bare minimum of effort needed.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#13

Post by Traster »

minikites wrote: post #6
jaytaylor wrote: post #4

"My dad got to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. I get to watch the guy who killed book stores ride a giant dick into space." https://ibb.co/t2tcN3p

Imagine if we taxed the enormous wealth of billionaires and used it for the good of many in society instead of inflating the ego of a single person. Our society is sick and I don't think people will stand for this level of inequality much longer.

I don't think it's productive to talk about tax. Our economy should be designed in a way that workers capture a good proportion of their work. The problem at the moment is that when there are successful companies, a handful of investors and senior management capture practically all the gains. Amazon is an incredible company, and it's even more incredible that practically no one working at Amazon benefits from that.

Just letting that system persist and then hamfistedly grabbing the gains at the end and redistributing them is difficult for a huge number of reasons including both fairness and regulatory capture.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#14

Post by toomuchtodo »

Traster wrote: post #13
minikites wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine if we taxed the enormous wealth of billionaires and used it for the good of many in society instead of inflating the ego of a single person. Our society is sick and I don't think people will stand for this level of inequality much longer.

I don't think it's productive to talk about tax. Our economy should be designed in a way that workers capture a good proportion of their work. The problem at the moment is that when there are successful companies, a handful of investors and senior management capture practically all the gains. Amazon is an incredible company, and it's even more incredible that practically no one working at Amazon benefits from that. J…

What you describe is equity distribution. It is a tax, but simply implemented as inherent ownership through citizenship or similar constraints.

https://blog.samaltman.com/american-equity

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#15

Post by Traster »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #14
Traster wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's productive to talk about tax. Our economy should be designed in a way that workers capture a good proportion of their work. The problem at the moment is that when there are successful companies, a handful of investors and senior management capture practically all the gains. Amazon is an incredible company, and it's even more incredible that practically no one working at Amazon benefits from that. J…

What you describe is equity distribution. It is a tax, but simply implemented as inherent ownership through citizenship or similar constraints. https://blog.samaltman.com/american-equity

I think shared equity is one way of solving that problem, but if you look at other social democracies, regulatory regimes that favour workers and collective action can have similar effects.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#16

Post by toomuchtodo »

Traster wrote: post #15
toomuchtodo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you describe is equity distribution. It is a tax, but simply implemented as inherent ownership through citizenship or similar constraints. https://blog.samaltman.com/american-equity

I think shared equity is one way of solving that problem, but if you look at other social democracies, regulatory regimes that favour workers and collective action can have similar effects.

I would agree. There is no silver bullet, but various levers that can be actuated in a manner that arrives at the desired socioeconomic equilibrium.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#17

Post by missedthecue »

minikites wrote: post #6
jaytaylor wrote: post #4

"My dad got to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. I get to watch the guy who killed book stores ride a giant dick into space." https://ibb.co/t2tcN3p

Imagine if we taxed the enormous wealth of billionaires and used it for the good of many in society instead of inflating the ego of a single person. Our society is sick and I don't think people will stand for this level of inequality much longer.

World governments spent $35 trillion last year. That's annual spend. Why do people on the internet act like all of our social ails could be resolved if only we could tax Bezos and spend $35.01 trillion instead?

It's seems governments have a budgeting problem, not a funding problem.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#18

Post by PaulHoule »

trenning wrote: post #12
kjaftaedi wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't like it though you should stop using their services, otherwise the message you are sending is that you care, but not really that much. I know I'm in the minority, but I stopped shopping with Amazon long ago, closed my audible account, and have slowly been migrating my current workplace off our/their AWS infrastructure. A handful of people have mentioned this is too much of a hardline stance, but…

I really don't understand why people have such a hard time weening themselves off Amazon products. It's not even like a physical constraint like having to drive a little further to a different store. Just visit a different website it's the bare minimum of effort needed.

It amazes me how Best Buy, Staples and other physical retailers refuse to compete.

For instance you can't buy a quality headset from Plantronics or get a USB NFC reader from either of those firms. Best Buy will sell you a Sony Alpha 7 camera but forget about any lenses other than the kit lens.

Don't get me started about how Dick's Sporting Goods sells mostly men's athletic shirts that will show your nipples which would be fine if I wore a bra but I don't know many men that do. I asked the people there, "Do you want to sell any clothes or do you want to make excuses for why you aren't selling any?"

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#19

Post by PaulHoule »

HWR_14 wrote: post #9
kjaftaedi wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you honestly don't like it though you should stop using their services, otherwise the message you are sending is that you care, but not really that much. I know I'm in the minority, but I stopped shopping with Amazon long ago, closed my audible account, and have slowly been migrating my current workplace off our/their AWS infrastructure. A handful of people have mentioned this is too much of a hardline stance, but…

There is cutting back on their services while still using them. If your sales on the site halve as you complain, that also sends a message.

My prime subscription runs out in April. I have a ways to go before reaching the natural point to not renew it.

Re: The Bezos backlash is bigger than Blue Origin’s success

#20

Post by ithkuil »

missedthecue wrote: post #17
minikites wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine if we taxed the enormous wealth of billionaires and used it for the good of many in society instead of inflating the ego of a single person. Our society is sick and I don't think people will stand for this level of inequality much longer.

World governments spent $35 trillion last year. That's annual spend. Why do people on the internet act like all of our social ails could be resolved if only we could tax Bezos and spend $35.01 trillion instead? It's seems governments have a budgeting problem, not a funding problem.

Inequality is a strong psychological issue. No amount of correct math and logic can offset that. We're wired to despise those who have more than others, especially when others are struggling and especially when those who have show off.

You can point out objective things like that contemporary billionaires are nothing like super-rich monarchy or noblemen in the past, who literally didn't have to work one day of their lives and could dispose of people around them as they pleased, quite literally. There was no me too, no rape allegations, they just did whatever they pleased with minimal consequences.

You can point out all that, but it's irrelevant. Many humans just don't tolerate "rich entitled jerks who show off". Other humans don't tolerate other kind behaviours; humanity is clearly not a uniform bunch.

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