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by bpt3 1494 days ago
Ignoring that this can be addressed through regulation, would you rather have limited choice between private companies or a single entity that mandates what you'll choose whether you like it or not and also can use force to enforce their mandates?
2 comments
kaba0 1493 days ago
Socialism is not a dictatorship, those are fundamentally different axes. A democratic society can vote to elect a socialist party and mandate them to create multiple competing companies in a given small market segment, for example.

But the fundamental incentives of a company under this ideal socialism are much better. Like a very crude example, other than the reason to avoid very strict regulations, why wouldn’t a food company put cocaine into their product? They have the incentive to make their buyers addicted - while a government run company can be given different goals to optimize for - e.g. the health of a population measured in some way.

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bpt3 1493 days ago
> Socialism is not a dictatorship, those are fundamentally different axes. A democratic society can vote to elect a socialist party and mandate them to create multiple competing companies in a given small market segment, for example.

Has anything like this ever happened in practice?

> But the fundamental incentives of a company under this ideal socialism are much better.

Socialism in a theoretical, ideal world would be great. We don't live in one currently, which is probably one reason why every single attempt at socialism/communism has failed.

> Like a very crude example, other than the reason to avoid very strict regulations, why wouldn’t a food company put cocaine into their product? They have the incentive to make their buyers addicted - while a government run company can be given different goals to optimize for - e.g. the health of a population measured in some way.

For one, people wouldn't choose the food with an addictive substance once it was known what the company was doing, plus most companies (and the individuals that run them) actually have morals and values that don't involve poisoning their customers.

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aledue 1494 days ago
> Ignoring that this can be addressed through regulation

That's just

> basically inviting corruption

with extra steps ;)

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bpt3 1493 days ago
As opposed to inviting it without the extra steps under socialism?
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