Doctrow argues that nascent tech unionization (which we’re closer to having now than ever before) combined with bipartisan fear (and consequent regulation) either directly or via agencies like the FTC and FCC can help to curb Big Tech’s power, and the enshittification that it has wrought.
But that’s not how capitalism works. The employees, customers and general public don’t invest any money in companies. Without money, no business.
The employees invest their time and time is money. The customers invest their money and their trust. The general public invests their tax dollars to create the infrastructure needed for the company to even exist in the first place.
And don’t tell me the employees get compensated for their time, because they create more value than they receive, hence, profits.
The shareholders, literally only invest money. They give the least and get the most.
Yes but it is nothing comparable to millions or billions of € invested by shareholder. Sure customer invest their trust and money but they get benefit immediately, aka the product. General public invest their tax for the infrastructure however companies get taxed too for the infrastructure that benefits general public, that’s a null equation. Investor are a necessary part of the economy and shall be treated as such, nothing prevent government from taxing more benefits from investment tho.
I didn’t say they weren’t important or necessary. I said they were the least important, and I stand by that. Name one single company that doesn’t have employees or customers, or exists outside of a government. I can name several companies without outside investors.