The Top 40: The Internet has brought back something that we thought was dead and that is rentier capitalism.

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August 8, 2016

The Internet has brought back something that we thought was dead and that is rentier capitalism.

This is the economic practice of monopolizing access to any kind of property, and gaining significant amounts of profit without contribution to society.

Cable operators are a good example. In my youth, TV was free. It made it’s money from commercials. Today, you pay the monopolist a fee to get access to TV shows, that still run ads. In fact, they run even more ads than when I was a kid. In the case of kid’s shows, the programs are just ads to sell toys. The Tragedy of the Google | The Z Blog

Posted by gerardvanderleun at August 8, 2016 10:36 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

You don't have to partake. They still make antenna which will fit on the roof, or a rabbit ears type for discreet viewing of over the air TV. That is if you choose to rot your mind.

Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at August 8, 2016 3:46 PM

"He (she) thinks too much. Such men (women) are dangerous."

Posted by: MOTUS at August 8, 2016 6:27 PM

My wife and I came to that conclusion a long time ago and threw cable TV and land lines out of the window.

For phone service we use our iPhones. We replaced cable with a digital antenna and ditched my land line that also provided alarm system transmission. Most alarm providers now have wireless service for a few extra bucks a month.

I haven't missed cable TV at all and the digital programs we have a great.

No more undesired latino shows, music programming, tv preachers, ad shows or crap we have to pay for and as more people catch on to cables' BS take it or leave it attitudes, cable will have to adapt or go out of business.

I prefer the latter.

Posted by: Jack at August 9, 2016 8:55 AM