[nerdponx]

The solution is to change the rules to optimize for the things that we care about.

I totally agree with everything you've said here, but I always get stuck on this part. What rules should we even change, and how should we change them?

[h0nd]

Interestingly, I was on the verge of addressing this one specific sentence too. Especially, in the light of what was/is happening in Australia.

Generally, I prefer to act for the things we care about than changing the rules to optimize for... However, this is a huge topic in itself that can not be dealt within a few sentences.

[bollorior]

I don't know - the problem with complaints like 'Wal-mart are destroying small, local businesses' is that although many people agree that Wal-mart is bad, often no one is sure exactly what is bad about Wal-mart.

Employee conditions, monopolistic practices to squeeze suppliers and city layouts and zoning are all already regulated in principle. But what if it's something much more nebulous? Attempts to intervene for 'atmosphere', 'niceness', 'tradition' and so on seem doomed to be either useless or lead to unintended consequences.

But just trying to understand and be honest about what it is we want can be a huge step forward!