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I don't like the whole idea of competition in business. I think it's foolish and doesn't provide anything for the consumer.
Now, that we live in a global economy. Should businesses in the U.S. still compete against each other instead of collaborating to compete against other countries?
How would that work? Let's say the automobile industry, for example.
U.S. automobile mfgs would work together on innovations for selling to other countries instead of "competing for tax dollars"? Americans would benefit from innovation instead of price/quality reduction.
For example, when I go to a shopping center. I see many steak house resturants. People say those businesses are competing. So, I go in and find low quality "previously frozen" or "pre-packaged" food because they can offer it cheaper than "freshly prepared" items.
That so called competition between businesses ends up being competition against serving quality food. So I don't want to have businesses trying to under-cut other businesses on pricing. I want innovation and quality to increase.
all of what you said is already being applied in a free market economy type of situation.
Businesses invest their money into innovation to out compete other companies. If there is no competition, what incentive is there to innovate? When you have companies working together what you ultimately end up with is a monopoly. Which destroyed innovation, drives prices up and reduces overall value to the consumer.
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For example, when I go to a shopping center. I see many steak house resturants. People say those businesses are competing. So, I go in and find low quality "previously frozen" or "pre-packaged" food because they can offer it cheaper than "freshly prepared" items.
This may be true but what happens if said frozen food restaurant gets the reputation of being, "just frozen food." (a negative attribute). While the competitor gets the reputation of being, "freshly prepared." (a positive attribute). One of the businesses might go out of business due to competition, however, at the end of the day as long as they make a profit they will stay in business. Its all up to the market to decide what to keep and what has to go.
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That so called competition between businesses ends up being competition against serving quality food. So I don't want to have businesses trying to under-cut other businesses on pricing. I want innovation and quality to increase.
Not exactly! You have to factor in costs as well. Ultimately the consumer is seeking out the best VALUE for his/her dollar. I could offer an ultimate best of the line highest quality burger for $50 but if the consumer doesn't think that is a good value then I will not be able to offer that product, even though it the best quality in every way.
Competition, liberty, private property, consumer choice and profit motive is what generates the greatest amount of wealth for the greatest amount of people. Take one away and you've already destroyed massive amounts of wealth. You simply don't know it, however, history repeatedly shows up what happens when you disrupt the above attribute. Capitalist countries have the highest standard of living while socialist/corrupt have the lowest.
When you have companies working together what you ultimately end up with is a monopoly.
Its all up to the market to decide what to keep and what has to go.
Clarification? If there is a monopoly that provides something the market decides they don't want to keep won't the business then be forced to innovate?
Competition in a global economy? Should US companies compete in a global economy? Are Americans such idiots? Have we lost all semblance of how the world REALLY WORKS! The "global" economy is based on third world sweat shops, teenage workers, and people willing to work for a nickel a day. If that is the kind of life and world we want for human beings then by all means COMPETE COMPETE COMPETE! The only reason western capitalism is so damn successful is because there is some southeast asian, latin american, or chinese worker willing to sew a pair of Nike shoes for a nickel a day. The only reason the western world can consume 25% of the worlds resources being only 1% the world's population is because some african living in a mud hut and taking showers under cow **** is willing to dig up that oil and those diamonds for a bag of rice and mud cakes, and maybe the fact that we have big bad bombs we will launch at you if you don't do what you are told. the global economy is a JOKE! It only exists to ruin the American middle class and concentrate even more wealth into the hands of the already filthy rich and powerful.
the global economy is a JOKE! It only exists to ruin the American middle class and concentrate even more wealth into the hands of the already filthy rich and powerful.
You have a unique way of making your point.
In your view, how should the U.S. proceed into the future if not by bringing innovation to the world?
We need to continue to bring innovation while protecting our working and professional people behind tariff barriers that negate any foreign price advantages. Freidman's "Flat World" only exists for the financiers that speculate on a worldwide basis. For the rest of us the world is a cess pit of corrupt politicians and conspiring monopolists. Just looking at gasoline prices will tell you the value of worldwide competition. It does not exist except to drive down labor costs for the monopolists.
I’m with you 100% OP! While the 50 States are scheming/competing/weakening each other, by stealing each other’s business (tax abatements, etc...), the Corporations are joyously looking over their ‘frontier maps’ to see which state to exploit next.
As for innovation: How can you innovate TODAY when there’s too much emphasis on costs, & less on function/quality? The energy policy of the USA being stuck in cheap oil, because of innovation subsidies, is just 1 example.
I see the hypocrisy/backwardness of innovation/competition every time I feel the warmth coming through a window on a sunny day.
Last edited by DSOs; 03-16-2011 at 12:46 PM..
Reason: misspelled subsidies
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