So...basically, the private sector is built on the idea that people give them money, and they give them a product or service that is worth a little bit less than the money they gave, or a LOT less. Thats how profit works.
All good points and enjoyable to read.
Here is how profit also works.
Consider two cable TV/phone/internet companies: Charter and Cox. [My brother in-law lobbies for one of these companies] They pour money into Washington for the purpose of dividing their regions into fixed no-compete zones. As a result there are towns in say Southern California where on one side of the street you can get Charter but not Cox. On the other side of the street you can get Cox but not Charter. A few miles down the road you can get AT&T U-verse.
Essentially, these companies have government-protected monopolies. They are protected from market competition. This allows them to raises rates and diminish services without fear of losing customers. By doing this they are essentially taking care of of wealthy shareholders at the expense of the poor consumer. This is what happens in Health Insurance as well. In many states, consumers only have one or two options.
What do Charter and Cox do with their profits? They invest a portion of them into the information system (think tanks, television, radio, internet, publish groups, PACs, etc) who are paid to convince you that they represent freedom while government represents slavery.
Here is what they don't tell you. They - Charter,Cox, Health Care, Energy, etc - are government. [Who do you think funds elections? Do you know what happens to a rightwing Senator who doesn't do the corporate bidding? He gets destroyed by Super Pac money and replaced by a candidate who will "play ball".] The private sector - John Galt - funds elections, staffs government, writes its own regulations and uses the taxpayer's wallet like an ATM (subsidies and bailouts). Goldman Sachs runs the Fed. The line between Congressman and Drug Lobbyist has disappeared. This is why Eli Lilly - in 2003 under the GOP - was awarded no-compete above market prices for Medicare drug sales.
Thing is son, when you speak of government and the private sector as if they're separate things, you are participating in a dangerous illusion. The final phase of capitalism is when the market winners use their tremendous resources to consolidate control over politics and media. This results in a system where free market competition is destroyed in sector after sector ... and any attempt by government to restore competition is called "socialism". You might ask "but how can they get away with such an Orwellian sleight of hand?" Answer: because they own the media.
Turn off the radio. Throw away the TV. Log off the computer...
And get yourself to a library.
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