GekeVenn: AMAZON
Lately the idea of "public-private partnership" between government and business has been positioned and promoted as a good thing. People are encouraged to no longer think of it as a form of collusion or corporate welfare, but as a way to bring the power of private industry to the benevolent do-gooding of government. The latest iteration of the public-private partnership of big business and government is being floated by Amazon, in offering a discount on Prime membership to people on Medicaid.
Rather than simply providing good value to all its customers, Amazon is using government metrics to define a segment of the population as low-income and rewarding them with a discount. It's horrible customer service but a transparent attempt to woo Walmart shoppers. The people this move fails to woo are Walmart shoppers who aren't on Medicaid and the discount provides a further benefit for those seeking government assistance, further entrenching them in the system that, as it turns out, doesn't help the low-income poor nearly as much as it helps corporations like Amazon.
@geke, nice work!
I'm not a fan of Public Private Partnerships...
Large portions of the US prison system are examples of a P3, not a pretty sight as you can imagine.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/03/14/public-private-partnerships-from-hell/
I will look this up. Don't even get me started on the Private Prison system. My best friend was lock up for nearly two years before they finally figured out that he was completely innocent, and was incarcerated because he "fit the description."
Hi, @geke,
Just discovering your Venn series today... Rent seeking, eh?
I abhor human government. My considered approach is to personally withdraw from it completely to the extent possible. Yet I find your series pointing out the corporatist overlap interesting. How do you source your information?
Thanks!
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I look on OpenSecrets first. They have a tangible revolving-door list. But it's almost always incomplete. So from there, I look at the company's lobbying profile, there are almost always more there. And then I do an online search for "plain" lobbyists and see if they've ever done a stint in government. And I try to search out family relationships and other ties a lobbyist might have. I'm glad you find the venns valuable!
Great post. This goes on so much. I'm afraid that the general public has already accepted it. It's like "Musical Chairs" between the big corporations and getting involved in government - where they are often able to write the rules in their favor. ...and it's both the left and the right. All financial markets are manipulated, politicians often own defense contracting companies (or own large stakes in them). The list goes on and on. Are we past the point of no return????
I think we were past that point when we drew up the Constitution. The government here has always existed as a form of protection for business interests. Most governments exist for that reason. But I'd at least like to point it out so that people start to get that, and stop thinking our government just got too big.
Well said, well said....
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