[anigbrowl]

Why should Disney be price gouged in that circumstance?

Because they have money and they're trying to buy out the whole market. This reads like a billionaire sobbing about not having access to a senior discount at the thrift store.

[vinceguidry]

That place was absolutely nothing before Disney developed it. The land was worth exactly what Disney paid for it. And there was no guarantee that it would turn into what it is now. We reward business for taking risks with their money. Disney took an immense amount of it, an absolutely outlandish amount of it. They poured money into that swamp. All on the bet that people would pay through the nose to see Mickey.

[anigbrowl]

I'm not complaining about Disney making money off their investment. I'm saying that if a large company wants to make such an investment, it shouldn't dissemble by hiding behind front companies.

[vinceguidry]

They wouldn't have gotten a fair price otherwise.

[anigbrowl]

Sure they would. Fair isn't some objective measure, it's what the market decides. If multiple market participants see that one player is trying to corner the market, raising their price is fair. It can equally be argued that those swampland owners bought the land in the first place because they had a vision that it could one day host a unique commercial enterprise.

If your business strategy depends on deceiving people, what does that make you?

[vinceguidry]

> It can equally be argued that those swampland owners bought the land in the first place because they had a vision that it could one day host a unique commercial enterprise.

Heh. On swampland? The amount of money you need to do anything with it is just huge. They bought the land for exactly what others were willing to sell it for. Nothing more, nothing less. If they thought it was worth more, they would have held out for more.

[anigbrowl]

And they made a huge commercial success out of it, as you originally pointed out. None of which is responsive the point that one should not engage in misrepresentation and deception, which undermine the competitive function of markets.

[solumunus]

They would have realised it was worth more if the true demand wasn’t obfuscated.

[comfypotato]

As if any negotiating business isn’t “deceitful”.

You’re basically arguing for discrimination to be legal.

[anigbrowl]

It isn't. I can ask for what I want in a negotiation and accept or reject counter-offers, as can my counterparty. I've never set out to deceive someone in such a situation. I don't know why you're trying to equate Disney with some downtrodden minority, but it's not very persuasive.

[detourdog]

I just have to point out Disney was paying top dollar for swamp land. The whole deal worked because Florida and Disney invented a public private partnership based on Reedy Creek.

I’m not 100% sure but I believe the model is what birthed HOA and Gated communities.

Permitting certain freedoms made swamp land more valuable.