Have we allowed corporations to get so large that they can cause inflation?

[bave]

Deregulation sucks and could ruin the USA economy ultimately. It is not healthy for competition but does
honor monopolies which can eliminate the small business industry.

Please name a few corporate monopolies in the US

 

[Razoo]

Have we allowed corporations to get so large that they can cause inflation?​

Deregulation is the culprit that pushes monopolies..........

 

[Razoo]

Please name a few corporate monopolies in the US

Monopoly by the Numbers — Open Markets Institute

The Open Markets Institute uses journalism to promote greater awareness of the political and economic dangers of monopolization.

www.openmarketsinstitute.org

 

[KLATTU]

So let's get this straight big companies kept inflation in line for 20 decades and then just decided to inflate them and the same time a pandemic happened

I think there might be another cause

You might as well try to explain that to tree stump than to a lefty

 

[aociswundumho]

Would you describe healthcare as less regulated in other countries? Canada, Sweden, France, Germany, Australia, etc?

No. I'll ask your next question for you:

Then why is the price of healthcare cheaper in Canada, Sweden, etc?

1. They pay much higher taxes than we do, that has to be factored in.

2. They pay by having to wait for healthcare. There are long waiting lists in Canada:

The total wait time that patients face can be examined in two consecutive segments.

This edition of Waiting Your Turn indicates that, overall, waiting times for medically necessary treatment have increased since last year. Specialist physicians surveyed report a median waiting time of 22.6 weeks between referral from a general practitioner and receipt of treatment—longer than the wait of 20.9 weeks reported in 2019. This year’s wait time is the longest wait time recorded in this survey’s history and is 143% longer than in 1993, when it was just 9.3 weeks.

That's a long time to wait if you are in pain and/or getting worse by the day.

Sweden:

Asia Nader didn't know whether to worry more about being diagnosed with a hole in her heart at the age of 21, or having to wait a year for Swedish doctors to fix it.
"I completely fell apart when I found out," she told AFP, remembering the long agonising months until she finally had her operation in June this year, one month before her 23rd birthday.

3. The US spends an enormous amount of money keeping very old people alive, where in other countries they would just die.

If you want cheap, high quality healthcare, then you need a free or largely free market in healthcare, and that is not politically possible.

 

[independentusa]

Please name a few corporate monopolies in the US

Energy companies. Remember, a monopoly is not always one large company, but can be several who control enough of the market to work together to control prices. Health care is another, where the different providers and insurers do not compete by price.

 

[bave]

Monopoly by the Numbers — Open Markets Institute

The Open Markets Institute uses journalism to promote greater awareness of the political and economic dangers of monopolization.

www.openmarketsinstitute.org

Not seeing any monopolies on that list. Why don't you tell me yours and explain why.

Energy companies. Remember, a monopoly is not always one large company, but can be several who control enough of the market to work together to control prices. Health care is another, where the different providers and insurers do not compete by price.

Bullshit.

Exxon is the largest major oil in the US and produces ~2.3MMBD compared to ~95MMBD of global production. That's not anything resembling a monopoly and their product is entirely a commoditzed as traded.

You think healthcare is a monopoly? Give me an example of a hospital or doctor that controls the market and dictates pricing. This is the dumbest thing I have heard almost ever.

 

[US&THEM]

No. I'll ask your next question for you:



1. They pay much higher taxes than we do, that has to be factored in.

2. They pay by having to wait for healthcare. There are long waiting lists in Canada:



That's a long time to wait if you are in pain and/or getting worse by the day.

Sweden:



3. The US spends an enormous amount of money keeping very old people alive, where in other countries they would just die.

If you want cheap, high quality healthcare, then you need a free or largely free market in healthcare, and that is not politically possible.

Not seeing any monopolies on that list. Why don't you tell me yours and explain why.




Bullshit.

Exxon is the largest major oil in the US and produces ~2.3MMBD compared to ~95MMBD of global production. That's not anything resembling a monopoly and their product is entirely a commoditzed as traded.

You think healthcare is a monopoly? Give me an example of a hospital or doctor that controls the market and dictates pricing. This is the dumbest thing I have heard almost ever.

Health insurers control healthcare.

 

[bave]

Health insurers control healthcare.

Yea. No.

Government payors cover the majority of US citizens and have a heavy influence on all the others. Private insurers largely take their guidance from coverages and payments from CMS.

Edit: And government payors pay dramatically less than private insurers, so much so that it causes losses to providers. Who has the power there?

 

[Roadvirus]

I read a OP on this board that said that 60% of the inflation is being caused by corporation raising prices to increase profits. When I look at just the energy companies and see that last year during the epidemic their profits rose by more than a170 billion dollars while gas prices have seemingly risen for no other reason, I think it might be true. A monopoly is not one company controlling competition and prices, it can be several companies doing so by working together to keep prices up. That is what seems to have happened, not only with energy companies, but with a large portion of our economy. Maybe it is time to once again have a monopoly busting government come into power and force competition in the market place to bring down both prices and inflation. Of course it will not happen as long as these large corporations can continue to buy our politico's, and they do with both parties. If we do not do something about the large corporations price gauging, we may see inflation of over 3% continue into the far future.

"Its all corporations' fault!!" is a pathetic attempt to DEFLECT from Bozo Biden's failure at dealing with this inflation.

 

[US&THEM]

Yea. No.

Government payors cover the majority of US citizens and have a heavy influence on all the others. Private insurers largely take their guidance from coverages and payments from CMS.

Edit: And government payors pay dramatically less than private insurers, so much so that it causes losses to providers. Who has the power there?

How many times has your doctor, like mine, stated insurance won’t cover this or you have to call over and over to get a medication or scripts approved? Always

 

[US&THEM]

"Its all corporations' fault!!" is a pathetic attempt to DEFLECT from Bozo Biden's failure at dealing with this inflation.

Profit driven companies have pursued the global markets while ignoring the ramifications that have come along with it.

 

[bave]

How many times has your doctor, like mine, stated insurance won’t cover this or you have to call over and over to get a medication or scripts approved? Always

This happens with all payers in the US. Whether it is medicaid, tricare, medicare, or private. They all have limitations on what is covered and often exceptions have to be approved in advance. This is also true in most single payer nations as well.

Learn the topic before you talk about it.

 

[Deuce]

No. I'll ask your next question for you:



1. They pay much higher taxes than we do, that has to be factored in.

The price of healthcare, including taxes, is lower. That's objective fact. Our system is, by far, the most expensive in the world. You're not illuminating some new fact nobody thought of, the existence of taxes is not a surprise to anyone. Our healthcare system is more expensive, this is fact.

2. They pay by having to wait for healthcare. There are long waiting lists in Canada:

Have you noticed that the waiting times argument is pretty only ever brought up with Canada? Have you not noticed that nobody talks about waiting times for other countries?
America has worse waiting times than most countries, so you people have to cherry pick the couple that also struggle with it.

That's a long time to wait if you are in pain and/or getting worse by the day.

Sweden:

They always start with anecdotes, that's fun.

Furthermore, I'd point out that you are failing to account for the actual waiting times in America, including people delaying or even skipping care for financial reasons. The waiting time for someone who can't afford help is infinity.

The solution to healthcare waiting times is more doctors, and it baffles me that you people think the solution is fewer patients.

3. The US spends an enormous amount of money keeping very old people alive, where in other countries they would just die.

LOL "other countries just let old people die" is too dumb to even bother with.

If you want cheap, high quality healthcare, then you need a free or largely free market in healthcare, and that is not politically possible.

It's literally not possible. Healthcare cannot be a healthy (rimshot) free market because some of the basic forces necessary for a healthy free market simply don't exist. To put it in Econ 101 terms because that's all the libertarian crowd seems capable of understanding: the supply/demand curve for "continuing to live" is fundamentally broken.

 

[US&THEM]

This happens with all payers in the US. Whether it is medicaid, tricare, medicare, or private. They all have limitations on what is covered and often exceptions have to be approved in advance. This is also true in most single payer nations as well.

Learn the topic before you talk about it.

I am speaking specifically about private insurance. Limitations, is that what you want to try to rationalize it? Your Dr gives you a diagnosis and hands your a prescription, where is the “limitation” there?

 

[Razoo]

No. I'll ask your next question for you:



1. They pay much higher taxes than we do, that has to be factored in.

2. They pay by having to wait for healthcare. There are long waiting lists in Canada:



That's a long time to wait if you are in pain and/or getting worse by the day.

Sweden:



3. The US spends an enormous amount of money keeping very old people alive, where in other countries they would just die.

If you want cheap, high quality healthcare, then you need a free or largely free market in healthcare, and that is not politically possible.

You are still quoting the insurance industry misinformation sheets etc etc etc. The misinformation is at least 20 years old.

1. They pay much higher taxes than we do, that has to be factored in...

Not necessarily we in this country pay a variety of taxes = many cookie jars = could afford single payer.
Shut down 600 bases in other countries and stop paying $25 billion more than asked for a military budget,
stop tax dollars subsides to wealthy corporations, take a hard look how much each elected official is costing we the taxpayers and trim that back, cut off the unquestioned annual raise to elected officials,
stop holding immigrants in lock up which is a small fortune and let them go back to work in America which as we can see there are plenty of avenues to gather tax dollars from.

2. They pay by having to wait for healthcare. There are long waiting lists in Canada:
In America the lines are always long. Sometimes we wait a home for our appointment date which could be days or weeks. then waiting a while longer after arriving is not unusual. Or if special attention is necessary the Emergency Room is open which can take two or three hours.

3. This is not free healthcare it is paid with our tax dollars thus we should have it because we own the tax dollars not elected officials, not corporate america so we own the money let's spend tax dollars more effectively covering the cost of our health care. Disabled vets would be far better off with this and the VA budget could be reduced.

 

[bave]

I am speaking specifically about private insurance. Limitations, is that what you want to try to rationalize it? Your Dr gives you a diagnosis and hands your a prescription, where is the “limitation” there?

My man, this is true all over the world, regardless of your insurance. No insurance pays for everything, no matter what, blindly. That's the point of the insurance contract. It specifies the terms and limitations available.

 

[US&THEM]

My man, this is true all over the world, regardless of your insurance. No insurance pays for everything, no matter what, blindly. That's the point of the insurance contract. It specifies the terms and limitations available.

No it is not.

 

[bave]

No it is not.

LOL.

Ok, prove it, go.

 

[US&THEM]

LOL.

Ok, prove it, go.

Insurance companies are profit driven, please explain how they become so profitable? Deny care equals higher returns.

 

[bave]

Insurance companies are profit driven, please explain how they become so profitable? Deny care equals higher returns.

Why does Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare deny care then? Do you have *any* experience? I have a ton.

I will make it easy, you seem like a Medicaid sorta guy, just roll up to a hospital or imaging center and ask for a full body CT scan because you feel funny.

It won't happen, ever, anywhere.

 

[iguanaman]

Can you cite an example of a monopoly or market collusion currently going on that would support your assertion this is actually a real thing and driving inflation?

There is no problem finding out if corporations are raising prices to increase profits. They are required by law to provide them. We can start with the oil companies.....

Exclusive: oil companies’ profits soared to $174bn this year as US gas prices rose​

Exxon, Chevron, Shell and BP among group of 24 who resisted calls to increase production but doled out shareholder dividends

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/06/oil-companies-profits-exxon-chevron-shell-exclusive

Now food prices....


FOOD DISTRIBUTORS

Tyson Foods’ higher meat prices nearly doubles profits​

The average price for Tyson’s beef surged 31.7% in the quarter ended on Jan. 1, while the unit’s operating margins jumped to 19.1% from 13.2% a year ago. Average prices for all of Tyson’s products climbed by 19.6%.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/07/tyson-foods-higher-meat-prices-nearly-doubles-profits-.html

 

[US&THEM]

Why does Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare deny care then? Do you have *any* experience? I have a ton.

I will make it easy, you seem like a Medicaid sorta guy, just roll up to a hospital or imaging center and ask for a full body CT scan because you feel funny.

It won't happen, ever, anywhere.

UnitedHealth Group earned $17.3B in 2021, according to earnings report

The company's full-year revenue grew more than $30 billion, or 11.8%, to $287.6 billion year-over-year.

www.healthcarefinancenews.com

 

[rickc]

Don't know if they colluded but they all raised their prices simultaneously. Corporate profits are setting records. Margins are doubling or tripling. Obviously someone thought the pandemic, supply chain problems and increasing labor cost would give them a good excuse. But it certainly doesn't seem those things hurt the cost of production or they have more than covered their cost.

One thing about it. If they caused it. They are going to pay for it. The FED is about to put us in recession. Just hope it is not as bad as the Bush depression.

Meat packers' profit margins jumped 300% during pandemic - White House economics team​

Jeff Bezos and the Walmart heirs have grown $116 billion richer during the pandemic—35 times the total hazard pay given to more than 2.5 million Amazon and Walmart workers.​

Fourth quarter earnings for the S&P 500 are expected to be up 22.4%, according to Refinitiv, capping off a remarkable 2021 where overall earnings will be up approximately 49%.

This is a few examples. Plenty more if you do a search

 

[independentusa]

Not seeing any monopolies on that list. Why don't you tell me yours and explain why.




Bullshit.

Exxon is the largest major oil in the US and produces ~2.3MMBD compared to ~95MMBD of global production. That's not anything resembling a monopoly and their product is entirely a commoditzed as traded.

You think healthcare is a monopoly? Give me an example of a hospital or doctor that controls the market and dictates pricing. This is the dumbest thing I have heard almost ever.

You do realize that there only three major companies serving the USA. They are thee only ones with refineries in this country and they control the price of gas. It has nothing to do with the international oil pricing, nothing.
And as fa as monopoly, just look at pharmaceutical companies. they are given a 17 year monopoly on new products and then can continually keep that monopoly by making slight changes in the product.
And do you actually see any competition in the health care field that helps to control pricing, really? Just answer me one question, what was the last time you went from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital to get pricing so you could pay the least for services. There are many kinds of monopolies, not all of them by large corporations. I was part of that system for forty years and I can tell you it is all about costs and profits. We did have a system once to help control health care costs, It was called regional health care planning. Reagan ended it saying competition would control costs better, how has that worked out. We pay almost twice as much per capita as any other country, we have over 40 million uninsured and our health care system is rated like 37th in the world. THat is what happens when you lack competition or government control.