Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

PatrickforO

(14,514 posts)
42. This is the nature of capitalism - the doctrine of shareholder primacy dictates that
Sat Mar 23, 2019, 07:15 PM
Mar 2019

companies work hard to gobble up competition and become monopolies so that prices can be jacked up to maximize profits at our expense.

I've been telling you this until doubtless I sound like a broken record, but if we were to overturn that primacy of the shareholder with Elizabeth Warren's 'Accountable Capitalism Act,' CEOs would be forced to consider the needs of their workers, consumers and the environment equally with shareholder earnings. So, keep profits up, but if you sell insulin, for instance, make sure the price is low enough or there are subsidies so that people can actually afford it. Same, as here, with eyeglasses.

We're getting nickel and dimed to death, and we are witnessing the biggest heist in the history of humankind over the last couple of decades as more and more wealth is transferred to fewer and fewer people.

And then in 2017 we had the giant tax cut for billionaires and corporations - they are trying to complete the job.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT during the campaign. For God's sake don't call it 'socialism' if you think the Republican strategy of calling everything they don't like 'SO-shal-izm' is going to work against us.

But call it what it is - a giant ripoff where money we pay in as taxes is getting systematically transferred every single day in a thousand ways to fewer and fewer people. So we have massive inflation in health care, pharmaceuticals, eyeglasses, housing and so on. Just so some billionaire parasite can get a little richer.

I know it might surprise you to hear me say this, but I'm pretty fucking sick of it. I want healthcare now. I want the Green New Deal now (for my grandkids more than for me). I want Social Security to be safe and expanded. I want the giant tax cut of 2017 REPEALED and taxes raised so OUR government that WE pay taxes into can provide services that WE need and actually make OUR lives better.

In today's USA the business model means deriving methods to fuck over most of the population. RKP5637 Mar 2019 #1
And that's true in many other parts of the world malaise Mar 2019 #48
Yep, sadly so true. Man is often his own worst enemy. Just makes no sense, one tiny planet in RKP5637 Mar 2019 #62
Daily I am stunned at our capacity malaise Mar 2019 #68
Profound words! FM123 Mar 2019 #79
I just never cease to be amazed. The hatred is stunning. n/t RKP5637 Mar 2019 #85
Italian company CurtEastPoint Mar 2019 #2
Luxottica bought the company that owned Casual Corner in order to get.. 3catwoman3 Mar 2019 #3
Couldn't agree more. SMC22307 Mar 2019 #24
We used to live in Upper Marlboro when... 3catwoman3 Mar 2019 #39
Small world. SMC22307 Mar 2019 #52
Luxxotica bought the parent company of both (called US Shoe) in 1995. Later that year they sold Celerity Mar 2019 #55
Just had to get a new pair UpInArms Mar 2019 #4
Where's the antitrust police? moondust Mar 2019 #5
They used to be mostly out to lunch, but my guess is they have been laid off under this alwaysinasnit Mar 2019 #20
Anti-trust is SO last century. Mostly died with Robert Kennedy OhNo-Really Mar 2019 #26
Died for sure with Ronald Reagan. n/t Brainstormy Mar 2019 #69
It's an Italian company fescuerescue Mar 2019 #40
No problem. moondust Mar 2019 #47
bingo. If US cared anout monopolistic business, Walmart would not exist. OhNo-Really Mar 2019 #70
Good question ck4829 Mar 2019 #76
Helpful video blogslut Mar 2019 #6
I think anyone who is in the Veterans Administration GarColga Mar 2019 #7
Some of the smaller opticians give deals to patients. BigmanPigman Mar 2019 #8
That's why I've been buying my glasses online for years TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #9
yep Kali Mar 2019 #49
Eyebuydirect.com madville Mar 2019 #10
me too Kali Mar 2019 #51
Last time I looked Costco was still pretty cheap on their frames. Mr.Bill Mar 2019 #11
BJ's optical is also pretty reasonable.... n/t getagrip_already Mar 2019 #14
We've been using Costco for years. SeattleVet Mar 2019 #17
Aaarghh! Not Ray-Ban ! panader0 Mar 2019 #12
You can still get 'em! B Stieg Mar 2019 #16
My brother says Ray-Ban hasn't been Ray-Ban for years... Honeycombe8 Mar 2019 #21
Actually, I wear cheap knock off wayfarer style shades. panader0 Mar 2019 #22
Cool! That's more my style. I'd never pay what original Ray-Bans cost. nt Honeycombe8 Mar 2019 #23
Yeah... they were bought by Texasgal Mar 2019 #54
Not entirely true. A HERETIC I AM Mar 2019 #57
The issue is not whether or not Texasgal Mar 2019 #59
Fair enough. I stand corrected. A HERETIC I AM Mar 2019 #60
Owned by the same conglomerate...but Vaurnet shades are the best. GulfCoast66 Mar 2019 #64
My eye doctor (that's the actual retail name) charged 400+ and CostCo under 150 erronis Mar 2019 #13
Only reason I keep my Costco membership Auggie Mar 2019 #19
Used to be a monopoly would get broken up. cstanleytech Mar 2019 #15
This message was self-deleted by its author Mosby Mar 2019 #34
Oh there is a difference and it's that Google does not provide you with any eyeglasses cstanleytech Mar 2019 #35
This message was self-deleted by its author Mosby Mar 2019 #41
Hmm thats a different area however I could see splitting their ad service up but would it cstanleytech Mar 2019 #45
Yep ck4829 Mar 2019 #74
Or... czarjak Mar 2019 #18
Ray-Bans CDerekGo Mar 2019 #25
I do that for a lot of stuff nowadays kcr Mar 2019 #71
The last time I bought prescription eyeglasses PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #27
Thank goodness for cataracts. I could finally see my feet in the shower and Hoyt Mar 2019 #29
"I could finally see my feet in the shower" PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #61
Dollar Tree glasses work for me. Doodley Mar 2019 #28
Really nice glasses, even complex prescriptions, by mail order. eggplant Mar 2019 #30
Love my Zennis TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #63
I worked for a high-end retailer, years back and had access to purchase orders. Wanna see something. TheBlackAdder Mar 2019 #31
All true but kind of a flawed headline jgmiller Mar 2019 #32
Luxxotica is an Italian company BlueFlorida Mar 2019 #33
Zenni on line Timewas Mar 2019 #36
Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winna!! nt Ferrets are Cool Mar 2019 #37
Zenni is the best alternative... lefthandedskyhook Mar 2019 #44
While I'd rather not buy glasses from China, I got pair of progressive, transition, glasses for $150 Hoyt Mar 2019 #56
I agree about buying from China... eggplant Mar 2019 #67
This message was self-deleted by its author YOHABLO Mar 2019 #38
This is the nature of capitalism - the doctrine of shareholder primacy dictates that PatrickforO Mar 2019 #42
Nice rant Farmer-Rick Mar 2019 #43
Problem is the majority party in the Senate would absolutely oppose it. cstanleytech Mar 2019 #46
Yep. Second step, take back the Senate and WH while keeping the House. PatrickforO Mar 2019 #53
K&R ck4829 Mar 2019 #50
This is precisely we anti-monopoly laws exit. procon Mar 2019 #58
Next to my Cpap, Lasix was the best thing I have ever done. GulfCoast66 Mar 2019 #65
Zenni.com SoCalDem Mar 2019 #66
https://www.zennioptical.com/ ProfessorPlum Mar 2019 #72
aliexpress hauweg Mar 2019 #73
TO HELL WITH THAT CRAP. Buy Zennis. CousinIT Mar 2019 #75
How do they handle getting the glasses fitted to your face? nt babylonsister Mar 2019 #80
It's easy. CousinIT Mar 2019 #81
Thank you! I think I will experiment with sunglasses. nt babylonsister Mar 2019 #84
BTW you can get Polaroid clip on for any or your Zennis for just $3.99 TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #90
I would add TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #88
My wife just ordered three pairs of prescription glasses MineralMan Mar 2019 #77
Some online outlets will send you frames to try on TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #89
didn't there used to be something called "anti trust laws" DBoon Mar 2019 #78
Franklin eyewear. One step above "cheater readers" underpants Mar 2019 #82
Can our next president PULEEEEEZE shanny Mar 2019 #83
Thank you for this post Pluvious Mar 2019 #86
I only buy Silhouette Glasses and I love them.... Little Star Mar 2019 #87
Post removed Post removed Jun 2019 #91
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»One company bought all th...»Reply #42