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JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 01:01 AM Nov 2018

Amazon Subsidies And Sports Stadium Subsidies Are Each Terrible In Their Own Special Way

Last edited Sat Nov 17, 2018, 01:33 AM - Edit history (1)

If you didn’t already get enough links to read from today’s weekly news roundup, and didn’t hear enough of my thoughts on Amazon’s $4 billion payday as it compares to sports subsidies, I’ve elaborated on my thoughts at length in an article that just went up this morning at Deadspin. Some sample takeaways:

Jeff Bezos will be getting more public cash than any single sports venue, but at least he’ll be employing actual full-time workers, so the cost-per-job ratio won’t be as dismal as in sports deals (though it’s still probably pretty bad).
Just like we’ve seen in sports deals, here are tons of hidden costs to the Amazon agreements, from infrastructure slush funds paid for with public tax dollars to federal tax shelters set up by Donald Trump that will cover Amazon’s New York headquarters, even though they were supposed to be for impoverished areas and Long Island City is decidedly not.
As in many sports deals, Amazon’s subsidies will evade most public oversight (in New York, anyway), and were arguably unnecessary at this level given that the company, like sports teams, undoubtedly ended up locating in the market that it wanted to anyway.
Or if you want to skip to the ending: “The Amazon deal is ultimately another step in the legitimization of government by extortion, where the nation’s richest men can withhold ‘job creation’ as a condition of not having to pay taxes, or commute without a helicopter.” But go read the whole thing, it’s way more entertaining than the bullet-point summary above, or at least way more packed with pop-culture references.

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2018/11/16/14287/amazon-subsidies-and-sports-stadium-subsidies-are-each-terrible-in-their-own-way/

Posting here because AOC received criticism for not embracing Amazon like Cuomo.

The referenced Deadspin article: https://deadspin.com/amazons-ransom-vs-stadium-deals-which-is-worse-1830467603

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Amazon Subsidies And Sports Stadium Subsidies Are Each Terrible In Their Own Special Way (Original Post) JonLP24 Nov 2018 OP
''Posting here because AOC received criticism for not embracing Amazon like Cuomo.'' Donkees Nov 2018 #1
If I shouldn't post AOC stuff here JonLP24 Nov 2018 #2
I'm pretty sure Autumn was talking about not engaging in negative Bernie threads in GD, ... Donkees Nov 2018 #3
There are plenty of negative AOC threads largely made by the same people JonLP24 Nov 2018 #4
I still think an AOC group would be popular for that reason. Donkees Nov 2018 #5
I agree JonLP24 Nov 2018 #6

Donkees

(31,086 posts)
1. ''Posting here because AOC received criticism for not embracing Amazon like Cuomo.''
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 07:03 AM
Nov 2018

Maybe you would be interested in starting an AOC group.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1280223785

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
2. If I shouldn't post AOC stuff here
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 07:44 AM
Nov 2018

I'll stop posting AOC stuff here. I was following Autumn's advice by posting the OP.

Why give them the attention that they want? You see a lie, want to refute a crap statement
do it here in the Sanders group. Let them enjoy their game. Don't add to it.

I thought it was a place for Bernie Sanders supporters in general and I include AOC in that. I just didn't want to post this in GD.

Donkees

(31,086 posts)
3. I'm pretty sure Autumn was talking about not engaging in negative Bernie threads in GD, ...
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 08:05 AM
Nov 2018

and using this group if you choose to refute misinformation about him.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
4. There are plenty of negative AOC threads largely made by the same people
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 08:09 AM
Nov 2018

As the anti Bernie threads. They're both Democratic Socialists. I think she was a Bernie Sanders supporter herself.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
6. I agree
Sat Nov 17, 2018, 08:22 AM
Nov 2018

I'd throw my support for such a group. Without the AOC reference the article is by an economist I trust which could be useful in explaining why the Amazon HQ deal isn't a good one.

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