Researchers found low concentrations of so-called forever chemicals in various "eco-friendly" straws, raising doubts about whether they're an appropriate alternative.

Researchers found low concentrations of so-called forever chemicals in various “eco-friendly” straws, raising doubts about whether they’re an appropriate alternative.

    • Wogi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      112·
      1 year ago

      Capitalism resists regulation, and races to the bottom. Two people, providing identical goods and I’m direct competition, will race to compete on price. If one manages to skirt regulation and the other doesn’t, the one who cheated will win.

      This will compound on itself until it overtakes an entire economy, and that’s where the US is now. Every corporate entity with the means to do so actively lobbying to defeat decades of proven regulation in the name of profit.

      It may not be by design, but it is in practice.

    • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Except that someone putting capital up is looking to maximize their return. Obviously they want more back than what they put in. Given endless greed, you have a feedback loop where they put less and less in while getting more and more back. Those improper regulations are caused by those same people paying to prevent regulations or to have those regulations work in their favor.

      The Soviet Union was not a communist country because the means of production were not owned by the workers but instead by the state. The state being made up of a few privileged individuals who were the greedy bastards of that system.

        • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          1 year ago

          Greed is not inherent to humans, that’s just a lie sold to you by the greedy. I’m happy with what I’ve got and I’m not looking to collect mansions, yachts, trips to space, etc. Most people are fine with a modest lot in life and don’t relentlessly pursue unhealthy amounts of wealth. It’s a sickness.

          You can keep putting in less and less until the system breaks. This is what we’re seeing now. Cracks manifest in the form of gross wealth inequality (i.e. massive power imbalance) and all the consequences that entails. These greedy sickos will push the system to the limit and give back as little as they can to maintain power.

            • hark@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              1 year ago

              Pretending that your assertion is correct that communism always fails and that it’s because of greed, that still doesn’t mean greed is inherent in humans. All it takes is a few bad actors to ruin any system, if given enough power. Capitalism is failing right before our eyes due to this tiny minority of billionaires and capitalism had already failed due to a tiny minority of super wealthy in the past before it was rescued in response to mass protests that threatened revolution.

              Speaking of salvaging terrible things, the wealthy used to build hospitals and libraries only as part of reputation laundering. They will do nothing unless they feel threatened. You’re focusing on tech in particular, but it’s a feature inherent in the ultra-wealthy. They will do only enough to save themselves and continue holding their position of power, otherwise they continue pushing limits.