[convolvatron]

because I used the same credit card at Whole Foods as linked to my amazon account my last shopping trip there showed up in 'recently purchased' and 'suggestions'. are we upset because the Norwegian government is getting the same information that Amazon is clearly mining?

[rglullis]

You don't pay taxes (yet?) to Amazon.

[guerrilla]

They pay profit instead. What's it matter though?

[rglullis]

The ability to collect taxes was shorthand for "the right to use force to compel you to do things as they see fit".

Amazon can not compel you to buy from them, and Amazon can not throw you in jail if they don't like you as a customer.

Mining personal data and using it against the interests of the individual is bad in both cases, but it is far more dangerous when done by the State.

[guerrilla]

> Amazon can not compel you to buy from them, and Amazon can not throw you in jail if they don't like you as a customer.

Of course they can, by becoming a monopoly and driving all other options for things you need out of business. Also by manipulating you with advertisements and propaganda. Coercion has many forms.

[rglullis]

Last I checked, it is still illegal to have a monopoly and the government can break a company apart if it starts abusing its power.

Now, who can break the Government apart if it starts abusing its power?

[guerrilla]

If you had checked, you'd know monopolies are not illegal. It's discretionary regulation and impotent in many cases. Power comes in many forms.

States fall for many reasons, but primarily causes are war and revolution (which are sometimes the same thing.)