Not an Amazon Problem
This focus on business and capitalism is just one part of a larger jigsaw puzzle, which is an economy based on American exceptionalism and the American dream. The former states that we must be unique and the best, and the latter states that everyone is able to have a castle, a good job, leisure time, retirement, etc. But they don't explicitly state <i>how</i> we get those things.<p>At no point in the American story does it say that wealth is to be distributed fairly. The past century has shown that as popular revolts upended the old ideas of aristocracy and monarchy, the US elite became extremely fearful of the idea of a more equal society. Communism was the worst specter of this potential loss of personal wealth for the elites, but its modern forms are also increased taxation, universal health care, increased public education/transporation/housing, etc. The more you distribute wealth to the rabble, the less wealth you can have as an individual, and Americanism is all about personal wealth (personal freedom comes largely from personal wealth; you can't even be the king of a puddle if you don't own the land it sits on).<p>It's similar to ancient Rome. The citizens can live quite comfortably as long as they have soldiers, slaves, and foreign riches. The big corporations of today are a modern-day Roman army: roving the world to capture and bring home cheap goods. The generals, senators, and merchants get the majority of the loot, and the citizens get fresh bread and garum, fruit, and the occasional exotic spice.<p>And much like the circuses of Empire, as long as the rabble are kept in bread and games, they'll put up with anything. No health care, no education, 3 jobs? Keep them in bread and games and they'll be satisfied. Netflix provides the circus, Wal-Mart provides the bread. Why would the rabble want them broken up when they're getting exactly what they want?<p>So this notion of fighting the status quo is really anti-American. You can't get far with the argument without butting heads against the fact that people would have to give up their cheap t-shirts, and that some would always have to work hard and live poor their whole lives. There's no way around it: <i>somebody</i> has to pay for our wealth, surplus, and convenience. If it's not us, it'll have to be someone else.