let's talk about Amazon

[chhotii]

Three layers to what I want to say about Amazon:

* a self-interested take as a customer

I don't like to buy from Amazon. I don't trust that what I will get from Amazon is genuine. I've bought at least one item from Amazon that I'm sure was a pirate copy. And I've seen reviews on Amazon, customers complaining that what they got seems fake. I don't trust what I buy from Amazon to not be a fake rip-off that's going to poison me. I don't think that brick-and-morter stores have the gall to think that they can get away with such things.

* looking at their business practices

Amazon has engaged in monopolistic, predatory practices:
For example, in the case of Diapers.com
Monopolies are bad. Monopolies are bad even for capitalism. Supposedly there are anti-trust laws, but apparently these laws have huge loopholes.

If you're doing business with Amazon, you're cheering for Team Amazon with your money. Team Amazon is trying to trample everyone else. Do you want to live in a world with no competition for Amazon? Then they can get away with anything.

* how they relate to the world as a whole

Amazon is on the list of companies to boycott, if you're trying to resist tyranny with your pocketbook:
https://www.resistandunsubscribe.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Bezos is an asshole. You know this, but I'll remind you: the Washington Post was all set to publish an editorial just before the 2024 election saying all the obvious things about reasons to support Harris for President. Bezos squashed it, because he didn't want Trump's ill-will. This is how fascists win. They can't point a gun in every direction at once (even with all of the Gestapo, I mean ICE, holding the guns). They count on cowardice. When enough of us are brave, despots fall. Well, Bezo's actions have as much impact as the actions of many many, maybe millions, of us ordinary people. What's wrong, Jeff, are you afraid you won't be able to buy as many personal jet planes if the President doesn't like you?

I'd rather give my money to people who are brave. I don't know if I can find enough brave people to source the necessities of life. I'd like to at least not be giving my money to people who are cowards, "good Germans", people who will take the success that our money gives them and use that to work towards a world in which the rest of us suffer.