• HidingCat@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    54
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    9 months ago

    Capitalism and a free economy are good when it’s serving customers by making the best product or service possible, while balancing that with paying labour to make that happen.

    The problem is that nowadays, there’s a third party to this for the megacorps: Shareholders, which is where the enshittification begins.

    Valve is a private company, so it is not beholden to any external shareholders, which is why it’s been able to chart its own course. Still, I do worry what will happen when Gabe steps down.

    • Poob@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      9 months ago

      Even when capitalism serves customers well, it still takes the work of people who make things, and gives it to people who own things

              • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                9 months ago

                I just don’t think that’s the case with Valve, they work on steam and add new features consistently, it’s not like they’re providing no value for the cut they take.

                I get where you’re coming from though and way too many companies get away with that kind of situation. Just what capitalism often gives us :/

                • Poob@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  9 months ago

                  I’m not talking about Valve giving things back to us. I’m talking about the fact the owners of the company get money simply by owning the company. They take money they didn’t work for. Even if the company isn’t manipulative or scummy, they’re enriching people who don’t deserve it.

                  • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    9 months ago

                    Generally companies do provide a service of some sort, the problem is that the higher ups who generally do less actual “work” rake in way way more then the average worker of the company.

                    Especially true for larger corps like Amazon