@bigheadtales @ProPublica

Cronyism. The word you're thinking of is "cronyism".

@bigheadtales @ProPublica

No, cronyism is in direct and obvious opposition to free market capitalism. Things like subsidies have no place in a free market.

@AlexanderKingsbury @ProPublica
I would argue that Capitalism is unable to maintain in modern society without cronyism and corruption.

Capitalism relies on offloading large portions of its expenses onto the general publish.

@bigheadtales @ProPublica

Capitalism can perform without cronyism...IF the people are principled enough to do our job.

Capitalism relies on nothing of the kind; offloading costs is in no way inherent to capitalism. It's POSSIBLE under capitalism, but then again it's also possible to gain benefits without paying for them.

@AlexanderKingsbury @ProPublica
It's possible in theory, but not practice. Capitalism always offloads costs. capitalism is only about the accumulation of wealth by a few.

It's only beneficial to a society when supported and restricted within a social framework.

Without that, capitalism devolves into some for of fascism to sustain itself.

@bigheadtales @ProPublica

These are very common misconceptions about capitalism. A lot of people look at, for example, what we have in the US and, thinking it's free market capitalism, attack it.

Yes, capitalism offloads costs...to those who are paid for accepting them. Capitalism has no such goal as accumulation of wealth by the few, or by anyone. That is a goal that SOME people can and do have under capitalism.

@AlexanderKingsbury @ProPublica
I'll wait to see an example of that actually happening.

Capitalism relies on public infrastructure and public services to offload costs of support services and labor in service of profit unless heavily controlled within a socialist framework.

But, yes, American capitalism is particularly predatory and thus why the US is on the brink of falling to fascism.

@bigheadtales @ProPublica

"I'll wait to see an example of that actually happening. "

Of what actually happening?

And that's another misconception. Capitalism CAN use public infrastructure, but that's hardly essential. Just common. But there are alternative; there are, for example, private railways.

What we have in the US is a far, far thing from free market capitalism. In many ways.

@AlexanderKingsbury @ProPublica

I've never read of a private railway that doesn't either use public land or connect using public rail.

It sounds like you're describing the Libertarian fantasy world.

I'm just saying that modern capitalism can only exist with social infrastructure and the original news story was an example of how the filthy rich enjoy the benefits of socialism without any of the obligations.