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Like Google and Facebook, Amazon uses technology and data to sidestep traditional restrictions on monopoly power. Now, Bezos is attempting to add more power to his empire with the surprise announcement that the company will pay $13.7 billion for Whole Foods Market.
Amazon very effectively uses technology and data to sidestep traditional restrictions on monopoly power.
By Matt Stoller
Source: AlterNet
To understand the depth and breadth of Jeff Bezos’ ambitions for the company he built, type www.relentless.com into your browser. The domain Bezos registered in 1994 will redirect to Amazon, the company aptly, and ambitiously, nicknamed The Everything Store. He tells his shareholders that the company will act like an aggressive startup — that at Amazon, it is always Day One.
Like Google and Facebook, Amazon uses technology and data to sidestep traditional restrictions on monopoly power. Our lives are increasingly organized by the platforms these companies run, platforms which now mediate the way we communicate and engage in commerce with each other. We are living in a world organized by tech monopolists, a change in power relationships that no one voted for but has been imposed upon us nonetheless.
Now…
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The Most Revolutionary Act 
Bezos also owns The Washington Post newspaper. Why would one man even want so much money and power? He could do more for the country (if that’s what he thinks he’s doing or will do) by giving Amazon employees better wages and benefits and by paying more taxes. Simple.
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Excellent point, JoAnn. Amazon’s shameful exploitation of temporary workers is a national scandal. I personally boycott Amazon until they improve their treatment of workers – there are a multitude of online alternatives for nearly everything Amazon offers. I also encourage all my friends to boycott them.
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Yes, a boycott is good. We can live without Amazon.
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http://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/mackey-love-first-sight-whole-foods-amazon?NL=SN-02&Issue=SN-02_20170622_SN-02_969&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPG06000001712252&utm_campaign=17088&utm_medium=email&elq2=3d226835bc2343e8998a93fb0588e3ef
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Excellent link, futuret. Thanks.
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Our future got darker when I heard the news. My son who is a prime member can’t see the problem.
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Rosaliene, this ongoing campaign to drive down the price of food in the US has very ominous implications for the health of all Americans. Cheap food is almost always fake food (Whole Foods is already notorious for selling unlabeled GMO foods). The only way Americans are going to maintain access to wholesome, nourishing health promoted foods is to ensure that farmers receive an adequate price for their crops.
Giving this kind of monopoly power to Bezos is only going to drive more farmers off the land and into bankruptcy.
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