I think this is unfairly underplaying WeWorks contribution to financial innovation with their creation of “community adjusted EBITDA”

Well every startup plays the game of “we’re profitable if you ignore all the reasons why we’re not profitable.”

GAAP isn’t perfect, but it exists for a reason.

Yes but the governments sole purpose isn’t to return infinite profits to shareholders………….

> So what is the government's sole purpose?

To establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

> Also this is not the sole purpose of companies.

Friedman disagrees.

> The free market has created everything you use the more we turn the keys over to government's the worse things get.

Which is why we have never needed government regulation of things like food, air, water, shelter, work safety, accessibility, or anything else. The free market provides.

> The government can get infinite power and control though

Which is why in a free society the government is answerable to the people.

> The free market has created everything you use the more we turn the keys over to government's the worse things get.

This might be your personal ideological creed, but it is not a self-evident axiom you can just assert with zero backing.

> Companies can't get infinite profits because they will be undercut by other companies COMPETING

Then why haven't they?

> The government can get infinite power and control though.. they have no competition.

Are you aware other countries with their own governments exist?

> Give an example of something the government does better than the market?

Roads, electricity, water, heathcare, pensions, public transportation, and social services.

The pro free market Liberian crowd are yet to give an example of their system working.

The best government is deeply imperfect but the regulation free Libertarian paradise is probably best demonstrated by some warlord somewhere. Great for him, not for any other individual.

They always think they will be king of the hill.

> Give an example of something the government does better than the market?

This thread's topic, for starters?

> Give an example where they haven't?

This thread's topic, for starters?

> And they all lose the most free market America? Why would we do more like them?

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here, could you rephrase?

> SpaceX is a trillion dollar company with 0 profit.

And it got there in part through the evisceration of NASA.

> The free market has created everything you use the more we turn the keys over to government's the worse things get.

Government funds research that has brought us such advances as moon landings, computers, and the internet. What an odd example you chose in SpaceX

The SpaceX example was to demonstrate how profits aren't the sole goal of companies.

Yes after the monopoly of NASA ended we now have several real space companies doing real advancement.

I personally have never used one of these "government computers" have you?

Maximizing value to shareholders is a literal legal obligation of public companies. A company being unprofitable today does not mean they are not seeking to be highly profitable tomorrow.

No it is literally not, and that misconception needs to die.

> The SpaceX example was to demonstrate how profits aren't the sole goal of companies.

What would you say Musk’s goal is? And do we want more of that?

> Companies can't get infinite profits because they will be undercut by other companies COMPETING.

Isn’t that what this very link is about? Where is the competition and lower prices?

Power, water, food etc the story is the same - or at least it is where I am. New Zealand.

The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential, demand.

Why are you pretending that utilities exist in a "free market" in any way?

I am arguing they should. We cannot afford to let the government control energy going forward.

I’m pretty sure many of us are actively unable to afford the private energy we’re having to pay for today.

Yes. Instead they return infinite power to elites and politicians.

You get to vote with your dollars and choose other options.

Mindlessly repeating slogans like this is not convincing anyone this is an opinion to be taken seriously.

You can vote for other politicians too.

With the obliteration of small business you can choose to buy from the oligarchs or go make it yourself.

Yes I’ve successfully explained Tailscale to anyone that has had a corporate job and has experience having to log into a work computer VPN before accessing their work intranet

or has heard of anyone who has had one.

This is like trivia but you get participation points along the way. Awesome game!

Thanks a lot!! Glad you had fun :)

Slate starts at 25k though... the SUV is at 30k. And that's without things like power windows and some basic amenities right?

Right, which is exactly what someone that only wants to spend 25k is looking for.

The whole point of the Slate is that it is a basic car without amenities.

I believe it's just under $30K with the SUV back.

Slate is still vaporware.

Famously a much more laidback working environment

The price system is an awful mechanism that can be rigged by an abundance of capital (read: VC/investor money)

You are assuming that OP is not a fan of buttholes

Super fun game!

Purpose is found individually through daily lived experiences and not because we are or aren’t in a simulation