I wonder if it would be possible to create an economic system where everyone's best interests are interlocked, but by natural processes; not law...

For ex: small businesses are better for workers, employers, and consumers.

Why?

Because the best interests of all three parties are aligned and interlocked.

Because the business is so small, the employer needs the employee, the employee needs the employer, and they both need and are needed by the consumer, all in equal amounts.

In an industry filled with small firms competition is fierce; therefore, a reliable and competent team is something to be prized. So the employer will do the best they can to keep their workers happy.

Employees will do their best to be competent and reliable because a) it will be rewarded and appreciated by the small firm and b) if they don't they will become replaceable.

Consumers will benefit from higher quality goods and services, and more options, that are produced when competition between firms is plentiful and intense. Naturally the firms who have the greatest balance between quality and worker satisfaction will be held in the highest regard by the consumer as they will offer the greatest and most consistent value.

If there could be a way to limit firms to get only as big as they can without disrupting this dynamic, I think that would be best for us all.

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SW-User

@SW-User a lot of industries use to look like this before they progressed into monopolistic firms

LustControl · M

They progressed because they filled a need at the price consumers could afford. Economy of scale is real. @SW-User

SW-User

@LustControl right, but then they leveraged the boost they got from that to become so big that they no longer have to continue to do the things that lead to their initial success.

That is the rub.

LustControl · M

@SW-User not true. While there are cycles to business, many companies continue to be successful for dozens, even over 100 years. Many businesses that can not continue their success are because technology has made their product or service obsolete. Or because labor has become too expensive.

SW-User

@LustControl i feel like you're not understanding what im trying to say.

Im not saying that businesses stop being successful, i am saying that they reach a point that they no longer need to be a boon to consumers nor workers in order to continue to succeed.

They go from succeeding on merit to succeeding simply because they are so powerful that they can control the market.

LustControl · M

@SW-User competition almost never allows that. It’s one main reason communism, even socialism fail.

SW-User

@LustControl you sure? Explain walmart, amazon, tesla, and the power companies in Texas, then.

It seems to happen a lot in the USA.

Once you're too big to fail the government props you up even if by all rights your company earned its failure fair and square.

Remember General Motors?

LustControl · M

@SW-User Walmart has been around for what 75 years? Kmart was competition, now Amazon so far WalMart has adjusted and continues to thrive. GM has been around for well over 100 years with competitors of all kinds many falling by the wayside. Their main problem has been the unions getting too strong and demanding wages that prevented competitive pricing, or quality product. But they pivoted and survived so far. Nothing lasts forever. But tons of companies last more than a persons lifetime.

SW-User

@LustControl

Their main problem has been the unions getting too strong and demanding wages that prevented competitive pricing, or quality product

So let me get this straight:

GM failed to balance its want for profit, and the needs of its consumers, with the needs and wants of its workers.

It got so bad that they felt the need to unionize.

And that isnt GM's fault?

Employer, consumer, employee.

The trifecta of commerce.

All three are equally as impotant as the other.

You are coming across as another person (one of very many) who cares mostly about one, a little about another, and nothing about the third.

LustControl · M

@SW-User you come across as someone that knows nothing about how businesses work, have worked in the past and clearly has never run one or could.

SW-User

@LustControl thats funny because not only do I work, I own a small business too 🤣

Im union; a worker who cares about workers.

I think that is the source of our lack of understanding of one another.