Or there need to be lots of competing services owned by different companies. That worked reasonably well until companies that are essentially monopolies became the norm, and it's not just news agencies that are a problem. The high inflation we've been seeing is largely caused by record profits that little or no competition allows.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Capitalism worked pretty well until capitalism happened."

The only way you're getting lots of competing services from competing companies is with a LOT of government regulation of the market. Otherwise the rational behaviour for everyone involved in a free market inevitably leads to monopolies.

If you're looking for a compromise between "everything is state run" and "late stage capitalism" then you can always go with something like the Canadian "Crown Corporation" model, where you create a not-for-profit company whose charter requires them to provide the best possible service at the best possible price. Then you let them compete with the market. Sasktel in Saskatchewan is a great example of this. Canada has famously terrible telecoms pricing, but in Saskatchewan rates are much, much cheaper than the rest of the country, because everyone has to compete with the floor set by Sasktel.

[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Government used to actively dismantle companies that acted as monopolies. There doesn't need to be a lot of government regulation until things get to that point, but you're right - Everybody wants to rule the world.

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