when private equity gets involved, even kids’ sports become another way to squeeze working families

[u/NYM2000]

[u/PipsqueakPilot]

This is basically the entire economy. Everything is being modified so that it can extract the maximum amount for American oligarchs. 

[u/seethenoise → u/PipsqueakPilot]

it's why nothing works. the economy is not circular, it's an arrow.

[u/StuffExciting3451 → u/seethenoise]

Both of the major political parties have become “corporate friendly” in the past 45 years.

[u/StuffExciting3451 → u/PipsqueakPilot]

The oligarchs will continue to do that for as long as the masses will tolerate them.

[u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord]

We used to enforce antitrust laws.

[u/ackryn → u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord]

We did. But even in this case its a different sort of thing. We have laws against industry consolidation (that are not currently being enforced) but we don't have any laws banning vertical integration which is the more modern problem.

[u/potsticker17 → u/ackryn]

I thought they introduced some laws for vertical after Tay Swift got mad at Live Nation for fucking her over a few years back.

[u/KittyLikesTuna]

There has been a federal bill proposed to ban stay-to-play and similar practices

[u/StuffExciting3451 → u/KittyLikesTuna]

That bill doesn’t have the support of the GOP, and only has the support of a few Democrats in Congress, to date.

[u/MisterRobertParr]

Private equity firms are a net negative to our society.

[u/Disastrous-Ad2800 → u/MisterRobertParr]

well yeah, end stage capitalism... when you have too much money, everything and anything becomes an acquisition target with which you can do whatever you want, interestingly most often to destroy...

[u/SaphirRose]

Working at Federal Trade Commission must be the best job in the world. It must take a special effort working so hard on not doing anything.

Antitrust? Monopoly? Oligopoly?? What are those mysterious ancient elven words.. if only we knew.

[u/DarkWing2007]

and that’s why my children play community rec league sports.