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by helloworld11 1710 days ago
It's possible to muzzle monopolist practices and politician-buying by billionaires in the west without applauding or descending into China-style totalitarian control. The obvious thing comes to mind if you follow the latter path: That you have simply replaced the manipulating power of very rich business people with the literally authoritarian power of political leaders with armies and police to enforce their rule (plus lots of public money they control as if it were their own). And even then, some of the businessmen you previously hoped to muzzle with such measures find ways to buy their way into the new political power structure.

Eventually try the same in the U.S and more likely that someone like Zuckerberg becomes one of those who can pull policing power strings than him being punished by "tough on billionaires" politicians with too much coercive authority.

As a basic bottom line, i'd prefer a country with a Bezos or Zuckerberg trying to manipulate me into depending on them to a country where a Xi can literally force my dependence at any time. Neither is ideal but the first at least leaves room for saying no without being imprisoned or killed.