Today's links
- How to cheat on your taxes: The rich are different from you and me.
- This day in history: 2006, 2016, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 19 Jun 2021
Today's links
- The gig economy's dark-money, astroturf "community groups": Uber and Lyft spent their way into a rep for racial justice.
- The doctrine of dynastic wealth: Abigail Disney on tax evasion and the American caste system.
- This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 17 Jun 2021
Today's links
- Tali Farhadian Weinstein paid virtually no tax on millions and millions: And she wants to be the Manhattan DA and go after Trump's tax-dodging.
- This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 16 Jun 2021
Today's links
- Suing all of ad-tech: Will an EU country finally enforce the GDPR?
- Interop Sci-Fi: Inside the Clock Tower, my interoperability sf for Consumer Reports.
- This day in history: 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 15 Jun 2021
Today's links
- Taxes are for the little people: If your eyes glaze over at "carried interest loophole," wait'll you hear about "fee waivers."
- This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 14 Jun 2021
Today's links
- The Rent's Too Damned High: A podcast of my Medium column on the long con of asset appreciation.
- Highway to Hell: The infrastructure "compromise" is just funny accounting.
- This day in history: 2001, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
A Monopoly Isn’t the Same as Legitimate Greatness
Competent monopolists aren’t good monopolists
If you do much reading about antitrust, you’re sure to come across Ida Tarbell, the campaigning investigative journalist whose masterful 1904 book, The History of the Standard Oil Company (free ebook, free audiobook), brought down John D. Rockefeller and his monopolistic Standard Oil Company, which was broken up in 1911. It split into seven companies, many of which are still with us—or were, until recent mergers (think: Exxon, Mobil, Esso, Chevron, Texaco, and Amoco).
Continue reading "A Monopoly Isn’t the Same as Legitimate Greatness"
Pluralistic: 13 Jun 2021
Today's links
- A stroll through Magnolia Park: Mask deniers, studio surplus, vintage stores, and the re-emergence of Zap/Action Haunted Mansion kits.
- This day in history: 2001, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 12 Jun 2021
Today's links
- The ACCESS Act: The most significant interop legislation in US history.
- This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 11 Jun 2021
Today's links
- Privacy Without Monopoly, EU edition: The GDPR forbids competition in human rights abuses.
- This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading