[sfifs]

I sometimes think the US functions as a giant experimental ground for the rest of the world to learn in which domains a combination of capitalism and devolved regulatory authority (which seems to drive rapid innovation) works and also DOESN'T work :-)

We've had fiber to home for years now in the East. Largely driven i think by governments seeing this was one area where it didn't work.

[ycombonator]

The politicians are paid off by big Telcos looking at you ComcastNbcUniversal. So much so cities and suburbs have laws on their books that they deal with only a single internet provider. Politicians and their empty talk of ‘competing with other countries in terms of technology infrastructure’.

[kube-system]

The East also has this:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/45/eb/48/45eb48b4c51715abecdf...

Somewhere in the middle is probably a happy medium.

[sfifs]

Yup that's capitalism and LACK of regulatory authority :-)

[kortilla]

That’s an example of government failure, not a failure of capitalism. The government is banning the easy installation from competitors.

[7sidedmarble]

And who is it that lobbies the government for favorable laws and treatment?

Almost like we... Live under a system that rewards and encourages that behavior.

[tomohawk]

Cronyism exists in all political systems. Doesn't matter whether it is a monarchy, dictatorship, socialist democracy, federal republic - it's always a concern.

But, cronyism is not capitalism. It's actually a subversion of capitalism.