Corporate Welfare

Government handouts repeatedly end up in the pockets of giant corporations. Johan Norberg’s new documentary covers this "socialism for the rich.”
So you don’t miss the weekly video from Stossel TV, sign up here: johnstossel.activehosted.com/f/1
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Politicians in Memphis, Tennessee, gave Swedish furniture giant IKEA tax breaks to come to the city and create jobs.
IKEA created fewer jobs than promised, and drove existing small furniture stores -- who still had to pay taxes -- into the ground.
"Where’s our tax break?" business owner Louis Caddell, of "King's Furniture," asked.
Then he went out of business. He couldn't compete with a giant like IKEA that got special breaks.
I'm glad PBS is airing a documentary on how government goes wrong. The video above is our shorter, Stossel TV version of it.

[@legaciestr]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate John Stossel for still doing awesome reporting after all those years at 74 years old? What a great man.

[@andrewkmac3507]

Ahh I c

[@MellowYellow.]

Yes

[@janoszatik2157]

I didn’t realise that he was that old. He looks 45.

[@legaciestr]

@@janoszatik2157 ikr

[@jonathanwhite3507]

Holy crap, he is 0.0

[@AV8R_1]

“IKEA promised to create 175 new jobs with an average salary of $41,000 a year” that is just over $7 million. I’d bet they are getting more than $7 million in government subsidy and tax breaks every year, which means taxpayers are paying their employees salaries rather than the corporation paying it.

[@uziquattro1083]

Consumers buying IKEA furniture with money created out of nothing

[@johnyoung5392]

You better believe some of those breaks go back into the politician's coffers. Politicians have been laundering tax money for as long as they can get away with it.

[@chrismartin7239]

Don't forget about the sales tax on everything they sell tho. As well as the large amounts of people that come in from out of town and eat at nearby restaurants, and pay taxes there as well. Personally, I think Ikea is trash, but if their tax breaks is far less than the overall money they bring in, its a good bet, imo. Similar to stadiums that are paid by city taxes, the net gain they get from that is far worth it for the city.

[@jakesandstorm8329]

You’re wrong. Paying for stadiums with city taxes is not beneficial.

[@Blumpity]

@@chrismartin7239 from what I've read tax payer stadiums do not bring in substantial income into a city and I suspect a large corporation like Ikea may be similar. Brookings did a very good article on stadiums, it's titled Sports, Jobs, & Taxes: Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost?

[@dylives7667]

Yet another receipt added to the Why To Not Trust The Government folder.

[@andthegreatcolddeathofthee1737]

The government and those elected to it have never cared about small business or the people they represent. This sounds pessimistic but there is too much evidence.

[@mushypork2132]

it's really bizarre that in a country like America, some twat politicians can ban a farmer from growing chickens.

[@dylives7667]

@@mushypork2132 Bureaucracy will be the end of this country.

[@tuberific454]

Ironically these policies win voter support with dogmatic slogans like "business friendly" and "job creation" similar to the way "death tax" results in 50% of all wealth being inherited, and most the wealthy being born wealthy. It's more the people than the government.

[@360_gangsterelite2]

the folder is very thick

[@RegineAteliers]

Meanwhile, AOC is attending elitist events at 30K a plate wearing a $5k gown with "Tax the Rich" printed on it.

[@riqqarddopv7918]

Someone said she looks like chick fil a foam cup 🥤

[@smithwrx5910]

Yet I bet you voted an elite Trump into office!

[@chunkemonke398]

"The rich". In other words, the rich people's competition

[@adamdrouin2295]

@@smithwrx5910 at least Trump isn't pretending to be something he's not

[@SonofTiamat]

By "tax the rich" they mean tax small businesses. The well connected ultra rich like themselves still get backroom deals

[@joesmith942]

The sick thing is that a guy butchering a chicken on his farm is thousands of times safer than any meat packing plant.

[@briankay4229]

And the chicken tasted fabulous. Yeah, they were smaller. But you'll never taste a better bird than the family farm chicken. Eggs too.

[@showmemo3686]

As a whole, that is true. Seems most food product recalls are for products manufactured by big corporations and affect multiple states.

[@andreipopescu5342]

Not to mention fudge

[@agsilverradio2225]

The private farmer is also more likely to treat their livestock humanely, as opposed to factory farming.

[@alexphillips8248]

@@agsilverradio2225 not crammed into huge facilities chicken on top of chicken. Small farms sound much lower risk for disease than the big farms.

[@geraldtyler8739]

"But they result in unintended consequences." Stop, time out, I'm calling shananigans. Those are 100% the intended consequences. We've done this too many times for people to act like they don't know what this is. This is a giant corporation, engaging in cronyism, to have their competitors subsidize them.

[@eugenetswong]

It's also communism.

[@ericpeltola5171]

This needs to be top comment for my white pill.

[@sweydert]

Nailed it. "Despite the best of intentions?" Ulgh. We're not morons.

[@acctsys]

Stossel keeps the benefit of the doubt. I admire that about him. Some politicians are just emotional in making decisions or cannot foresee the consequences of their decisions. I still think government should be small. Let's just give some room nuance.

[@eugenetswong]

@LTNetjak it's all part of the beast that we know as communism.

[@DUKEzors]

Hol'up. Social media actually made a positive difference? That's the biggest miracle in this video.

[@justifiably_stupid4998]

Tyrants and desk jockeys are immune to "social pressure"

[@randylahey8207]

Like any service, the medium itself is value neutral. It's on the humans whether or not it's used for good or bad purposes.

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

@@randylahey8207 Which implies a negative light on hunanity.

[@dylives7667]

Social media was born under the principles of the Internet itself. It can be used to create. But also used to destroy.

[@randylahey8207]

@@JohnSmith-wx9wj again, depends on your perspective. There are people and companies that use social media responsibly, and for some very good causes. We just don't hear about it, because that doesn't get clicks or sell product. As usual, our world is colored by what is emphasized and what isn't.

[@Mr.Rogers91]

The United States Government has gotten so bloated and so far from its intended purpose I don't know if we will ever be able to fix it without almost totally eliminating the federal government

[@BabyCharlotteschannel]

Amen! THAT is the truth!

[@Objective-Observer]

Oh, that is far easier than you think: The Federal Income Taxes should stay in the State Capitols, and THEY give the Feds their allowance ONLY for those roles the Constitution dictates the Feds must do. It isn't the Government that is too big: it is the Beareaucracy that is bloated to deal with all that money and the necessary Oversight to insure it isn't mispent... which in and of itself, mis spends all that money.

[@jjohnson1667]

Careful, they’ve gotten so big that rhetoric like that they’ll call a “threat” to democracy. If you even hint at the idea of rolling back much of our govt they consider you an enemy and threat. Our politicians (public servants) should never treat American individuals as a threat to govt for trying to improve it. Improving out govt sometimes means slimming it up or peeling back layers so it’s more efficient and much more transparent.

[@FishFind3000]

@@Objective-Observer but then the fed will with hold money that the states would get. The fed gives grants to states for roads and other projects. It wouldn’t work for anyone unless that state is so financially sound that it could stand on its own tax dollars.

[@divinecomedian2]

It's a problem all the way down to municipal governments. This video specifically called out the Memphis government for offering tax abatements to IKEA and not the other dozens of furniture retailers in the city. There's problems at all levels.

[@IronskullGM]

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." ~ Benito Mussolini

[@RickF7666]

As far as I'm concerned there should be NO government subsidies for anyone for any reason.

[@FebbieG]

Amen

[@apc9714]

Not really. Government subsidies or additional taxes help accounting for unpriced externalities. Ex, tax to polluting machines and subsidies to the clean one balance things out

[@2411509igwt]

I agree, but to play Devil's advocate, what about supply chains for national defence? Even with all the subsidies, high tech components are made in China, which often is a security risk.

[@RickF7666]

@@apc9714 I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you. The name Solyndra comes to mind. Anytime the government takes money in taxes from all citizens and gives it to certain citizens it's theft. The government has one job, protect individual citizens against aggressors and cheats. Interfering in businesses, beyond enforcing contracts, is beyond the legitimate use of government force.

[@AhmedAnassofu]

In a capitalist economic system, the role of the government is to protect a free marketplace. When the government no longer protects but instead controls the marketplace, you are no longer in a capitalist system.

[@marcosffontes]

The better coment. THe crony capitalism no is free markeplace

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

'The Greater Good' is often politician's code for 'Get rid of competition'.

[@stephenhill6003]

"The greater good is whatever puts money in my pocket and gets me re-elected."

[@Amipotsophspond]

"the greater good" is profoundly arrogant always implies the greater good is known. it is a false assumption that their is a greater good not the reality that their is only different environments in some environments some individual actors do better then other individual actors. if you look in to the results of aid to totalitarian places, even if that aid is simply food you find the aid enables the totalitarian to not have to worry about feeding the population to hold off revolt, and so is simply more resources for the totalitarian. the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@Barskor1]

For the greater good every evil can and will be done.

[@LeeroyPorkins]

Fun Fact: Local Farms REDUCE emissions as there isn't all the trucks

[@MrKago1]

not to mention its much simpler to cap the lagoon of a smaller farm set up the gas to be collected and used on said farms. bigger commercial farms not only have enormous lagoons that are more difficult to cap effectively, they have to have the economic incentive, because the renovations are insanely expensive at that size.

[@samevans7911]

Man, we should just call lobbying for what it is. Bribery and corruption

[@snorkelfish]

We should just call it what it is… capitalism.

[@raymondcoventry1221]

Thank you John Stossel for standing up for communities over big government and their corporate welfare lackeys

[@newguy3588]

Get rid of all subsidies. Get rid of ineffective Ethanol.

[@JonMI6]

The Rule of 3 Bigs: Big Business with Big Government inevitably results in Big Corruption

[@euphoricmonk]

Thus the democratic / so called progressive party

[@steampunk888]

Government in the US has been offering “jobs,” in lieu of small business ownership, for decades.

[@AdmoreMethod]

That’s because Communism has been whittling away at America since the 1950s. The three most important things it must destroy is family, financial freedom and Christianity.

[@europeansovietunion7372]

@Professional shit poster Usually it starts by attacking gun rights, then religion.

[@722Moo]

@Professional shit poster religion is a core belief tied to so many ways of living with a moral compass.

[@AdmoreMethod]

@@europeansovietunion7372 I don’t agree, because Marxists started attacking Christianity in the 60s - first getting it out of our entertainment, then out of our schools, then off of our public monuments, etc. - because Christianity believes people are made by God. Humans, according to Christianity, have inherent value. And, Marxists do not believe that. Marxism believes that people are disposable - that humans have no value except for the labor they provide to the elite. This is why Marxism MUST destroy Christianity and Judaism, because it must destroy the belief in human value.

[@mikebergman1817]

@@AdmoreMethod I agree here. I believe guns are the final thing that's in their way, rather than the first thing. Just another reason why it's so important to keep our rights to have them.

[@Nikua13]

This is why politicians will never allow a flat tax; this is how they pick winners and losers. We shouldn’t pay corporate welfare nor should we pay personal welfare. Lobbies should also be absolutely illegal, along with the RNC and dnc.

[@user-qi7xx5ih6z]

Correction. Politicians dont pick winers and loosers, but rather corporations buy Politicians and lobby the goverment. Corporatism is the natural result Of the interaction between capitalism and goverment.

[@joelellis7035]

@@user-qi7xx5ih6z Nope with the free market, corporatism is abated through competition. Corporatism is a function of Statism.

[@therockinboxer]

Bingo. Delete all other comments. Enough said

[@therockinboxer]

@@user-qi7xx5ih6z it's the choice of the politicians to listen. Corporations lobby because they don't have the power

[@user-qi7xx5ih6z]

@@therockinboxer politicians dont relly have a choice most if the time because they need money for campains and if a honest persons runs for office without corporate donations he Will loose to a less morla but more practical candidate willing to accept generous sums of money.

[@brada1803]

PBS - should Investigate themselves

[@lisamoore6804]

Ikr?

[@arthasmenethil2201]

And they'll find nothing wrong

[@Laconic_]

*Lobbying* is a word the modern mafiosos use to rub their bribery in your face.

[@tdgdbs1]

Can't agree more

[@charles5398]

Bribery and laundering.

[@bluehotdog2610]

Outlaw lobbying

[@isthisnametaken978]

When you have zero corruption because you call it "lobbying" *murica*

[@TheAnimeist]

Meanwhile the lawmakers make speeches and have dinners. I truly believe most of them are clueless.

[@gregsimoes8645]

Why so many people have lost faith in government in a nutshell: 1. Legislature creates a policy 2. Public outcry about said policy before it is passed 3. Legislature says "oh, we don't understand what we're writing a policy about, I guess enough people are mad that we should actually educate ourselves about it"

[@lawrencemiller3829]

There should not be property tax. The government should be minimal.

[@tthams73]

Anytime government needs to “protect” us, we should run!

[@bubbablue1100]

I drive a truck for a living, delivering products and goods across the country to consumers like you. I've never gotten money to make sure I have an adequate fuel supply, or maintenance program.

[@Dan16673]

You need to step up your lobbying

[@bubbablue1100]

@@Dan16673 no doubt.

[@eustacebagge3869]

@@douglaslandfield This is true, but the problem is the stepping stone to become one... You need connections + a lot of money to be respectable, modern day elitism.

[@GeorgeWMays]

The system is officially broken. Disgrace.

[@yp556]

Finally someone talking about this - this isn’t competition it’s destroying local businesses and benefitting corporations

[@droe2570]

We've been talking about it for decades.

[@elioraimmanuel]

END government subsidies! End Bailouts!

[@NobleOmnicide]

"Lobbyists" and the politicians that pander to them should be dealt with swiftly and harshly.

[@olivervision]

I think Sanders and AOC are the only two in the government who don't accept lobby money etc..

[@NobleOmnicide]

@@olivervision Who paid for AOC's $30,000 Met Gala ticket?

[@olivervision]

@@NobleOmnicide I hope it was Bernie Sanders.. That'd be funny. However, I do like AOC, not for her political stance necessarily, for the fact that she's always in the news. Whether her views/policies are right, wrong, good, bad, stupid or smart makes no difference to me. She seems like the only person in Congress that is actually trying to do something. That I can respect. I mean, why aren't our people in the news all the time pushing their stuff? It's just AOC. The Met being in NY I would have thought they they'd give her a free pass but the fact is I don't know who paid for her ticket... Was is some terrible lobbyist?

[@kimjaniszeski498]

Like the windmill and solar panel companies. Without the government handouts they wouldn't be ruining our beautiful rural areas.

[@youdagoob]

But those things feel good to Lefties in favor of The New Green Deal and other shenanigans.

[@tetrabromobisphenol]

And coal mines don't ruin the landscape? Electric power does not come from the Easter Bunny.

[@kimjaniszeski498]

@@tetrabromobisphenol really? Dam I didn't know that.. thought him a Santa started GE... lol

[@JKtheSlacker]

"And neighbors have a choice in the food that they eat." - Cut to shot of people gathered around a baby. Jokes aside, great video as always, John.

[@rongerra4172]

So fresh ... it’s still twitching

[@THall-vi8cp]

Ya, I raised an eyebrow at that, too.

[@heliumphoenix]

It's just a "modest proposal"....

[@ottobaron6392]

I used to have a small antique shop in Southern California. The local Government got a redevelopment district voted in, and then did what they could to destroy small local businesses, in order to bring in a regional mall, while replacing the smaller buildings in the historic core, with big three story buildings in Faux historic styles. A few of those large buildings were built, because they were subsidized. But most of the historic core remains empty, except for what was built prior to the redevelopment plan being developed.

[@pauperslament3467]

Any deficit, at any government level, is grounds for Taxation without Representation.

[@MadebyKourmoulis]

Why do people let the government choose what they can and can't eat? Why do people let the government make decisions for them at all?

[@sexistspaghettios]

Because A LOT of people would rather have "comfortable servitude" instead of "turbulent freedom" I'm sure I butchered that lol. Edit: not me btw! 😉

[@MadebyKourmoulis]

@@sexistspaghettiosThomas Jefferson But I wouldn't even agree it's comfortable these days.

[@sexistspaghettios]

@@MadebyKourmoulis I would agree.

[@elgrigorio1]

John Stossel is the best; Real journalism, no bias, nothing but the truth.

[@Xckel13]

Yup, we've seen this with Wal-Mart, get the tax abatement, and as soon as it expires, close the store and reopen nearby where another city will give them a break. People worry so much about the poor or children getting some money when these few rich businesses are fleecing us for billions every year while hurting small businesses at the same time and it's largely ignored. We should be outraged.

[@williamw3501]

With a system this dysfunctional; is it possible to fix it without completely destroying it? 🤔

[@arthasmenethil2201]

It's a risk we must take.

[@rogermetzger7335]

I’ve only run for public office once. I “tossed my hat in the ring” when it was reported that the incumbent didn’t have any challengers. I didn’t make many campaign promises but two I did make were 1: that I would spend at least as much time and money encouraging or helping local entrepreneurs and local small business owners as what I spent encouraging interstate or international corporations to build facilities in our city or relocate their headquarters there and 2) that IF I ever traveled outside the United States for that purpose, I would pay for those travel expenses from my own salary - not from a taxpayer-funded “expense account”. Almost anyone who is reading this can at least ask people who run for office in your city or county whether they are willing to make either or both of those promises.

[@thegreendank1]

One of the extremely rare HONEST journalists. You're a national treasure good sir. Keep doing what you're doing a.k.a. AMAZING WORK.

[@papiparsons9045]

Excellent video on why small businesses can't survive because of government corruption

[@cosaosa2855]

Circa 2009, I worked for an aerospace company that rhymes with "going". The dept I worked in dealt with sensitive info and work and we needed a new employee. Among the pool of applicants was a white guy with about 20 years of experience in the relevant field, combat vet. Also there was a female fresh out of college, with no experience. Let's just say that she had more melanin in her skin than the more-qualified guy. Who got the job? The underqualified female did. Over the course of the next couple of years, she (unsurprisingly) didn't grasp the job, so they bounced her from one dept to another to see where she'd fit. ALL these depts lost money on her, and about a year later, the more-qualified guy was hired, where he was an immediate success. As of the last time I worked there, she had made no ground in learning the trade, but kept her on the payroll for obvious reasons. THIS is corporate welfare.

[@lancemcque1459]

This is the one victory John found for us. How many other local farmers lost out due to corporate institutions?

[@superbrownbrown]

*This video does a great job of highlighting the differences between "Capitalism" and "Financial Corporate Socialism". The first is always being blamed for the second, and it needs to stop.*

[@Charles-pf7zy]

there is no private property under socialism so idk how in the hell you came to that conclusion

[@superbrownbrown]

@@Charles-pf7zy *The government handing money (taxpayer dollars) to a company hand over fist for any other reason other than being earned by merit is a covert and cronyism form of socialism.*

[@altonb.1396]

​​@@Charles-pf7zy The govt taking taxpayer money and deciding to give that money to specific businesses. Kinda sounds socialist don't u think?

[@apuapustaja1]

The first inevitably results in second.

[@energeticwhirlpool8666]

This so much! We hand out tons of tax money to large corporations that a small business owner wouldn't have access to. It's the reverse-socialism that literally no one, however socialist or capitalist they are, should be in favor of.

[@ChristopherRyans]

I think we do need to take a second and realize how important John Stossel really is still getting the truth out there.

[@chaosgyro]

I remember that campaign, and yes they really did answer with, "Are you calling about the chicken?".

[@rnrtruestories]

the same thing happened where I live when the hockey team wanted to pickup and leave. They ended up staying because of the handouts.

[@bige2012]

actually not the sane- athletic stadiums spur economic development around them, & they create jobs, & bring in tourism $$ that spend at restaurants & hotel- revenue which helps support the incentives given without taking tax $$ from locals.

[@AZrakoon]

I bet it was the Arizona Coyotes.

[@2000ViperGTSsubscribe]

@@bige2012 " spur economic development around them, & they create jobs" Let them pay their own way as I could effectively argue the net macro effect of my business running and claim I need corporate welfare too. I own a tech company, a decent sized one and I get ZERO handouts. level the playing field and let free markets work as I certainly do not want to pay for the NFL or NBA or anyone else unless I buy a ticket or use their licensed gear..

[@aaa7189]

@@2000ViperGTSsubscribe 10 home games in the NFL does not really do much for the business around them, a little spike in income that is it. What happens after the season, it goes back to normal. The Buffalo Bills want a new stadium, why should the tax payers build the stadium ? The NFL makes 12.2 billion A season. Some thing is wrong with that picture

[@renaissancestatesman]

@@bige2012 this is the nonsense they peddle but it isn't reality. Stossel himself has broke down how much nonsense this is. Now paying to keep a team after already building the infrastructure is a bit more understandable but in the end is still a gambler's fallacy.

[@timm285]

John Stossel puts out the best stuff.

[@myisden2954]

So you simply accept what he is? Do you ever try to dig into the subject for yourself? Just wondering . . .

[@dutube99]

@@myisden2954 What is he?

[@watchdealer11]

I've been to King's. It was a good store. My cousin bought chairs from there. Sad to see it go; maybe if they didn't have that giant tax burden that Ikea doesn't, they would still be here.

[@katiecoollady]

Nice to have a rare happy ending. It literally made me cry....

[@frankiecampos8909]

"finally, they have a choice in what food they eat" *shows people surrounding baby

[@bryanb3352]

Stossel is a treasure. He always has such unique, thought provoking stories.

[@brianbradley1345]

A fellow Brian/yan B.

[@Mapdotnowhere]

Give me Stossel’s world any day of the week

[@snicketysnickerdoodle8484]

Sweetheart deals with large corporations designed to lure them into their jurisdiction allows government to maintain high taxes. Like the video says, directly transferring wealth from mom and pop.

[@donaldkenne3776]

It's exactly why high taxes are garbage policy. Lower taxes on everyone and charge a flat rate on a specific and reasonable unit of measure. Wouldn't be a need for crony capitalism like this anymore.

[@damondziewiontkowski5623]

It’s literally how the new world mopped up the world for a few hundred years. Low taxes and regulations. Government public schooling has made people so stupid they can’t even see why…

[@michaellowe3665]

I called my county about a building permit for a detached garage. I asked if there were height limits because I might want to install a lift. The woman immediately snapped back that I could not run a business from my home. I had no intention of it, but the thought that I cant really pissed me off. They can take tax money and give it to billionaires who promise to bring jobs to a town, then don't, but I cannot bring my own job. The disgusting smugness of that woman thinking she has the right to tell me what I cant do for a living is what is wrong with this country.

[@HunterAshner]

John one of the only real reporting sources left!

[@caribbeanbound8357]

Letting businesses keep more of their own tax money is fine. It's their money to begin with. BUT, if all other businesses have to pay a higher rate, the government has now created an unfair advantage and messed with the free market. Government is essentially picking and choosing winners and losers. Not ok at all.

[@jimdavies6764]

Very well said!

[@gregoryeverson741]

its not their money if its for taxes

[@caribbeanbound8357]

@@gregoryeverson741 yea. when you make money and someone steals it, its not considered theft in the one circumstance that the thief is the government claiming taxes. gotcha

[@b-chroniumproductions3177]

@@gregoryeverson741 then who the fuck's money is it

[@PeeZeeTheDirector]

When I think of real eye opening journalism, I think of how Stossel did it in the 90s!!! I was watching his stuff with my mom on 20/20. He started this and made it possible for the Tim Pools of this world 🙏🙏🙏

[@sam_s_]

Stossel is an American hero.

[@stormsmack69]

Thank you, Mr Stossel, you always bring poignant stories to the front. Corporate America really hates competition. This is a problem that needs to be addressed. More reasons why we need to drain the swamp, no matter if there's a D or an R behind the name. Crooked is crooked.

[@markharral]

As an independent owner operator truck driver, I would love to know where my government subsidies are!! I know the giant carriers get tax breaks and kickbacks from the government wish I could too.

[@jeffpadilla9891]

This is one instance where social media actually worked in favor of the small guys. I hope we see more of this.

[@jimmyhalo1975]

Where are the tax abatements for residential properties?

[@trolllo9729]

Thanks for proving journalism is not dead

[@SamtheMan0508]

This happened to the citrus industry in Florida too.

[@elenabob4953]

Many bills goes sideways, have you seen Lois Rossman and the right to repair and what arguments lobbyist use regarding why you shouldn't be allowed to repair your products?

[@danieldaniels7571]

Lois?

[@JFDSmit-rm6tw]

@@danieldaniels7571 I think the OP meant Louis.

[@JFDSmit-rm6tw]

I just loved when he told about the Apple-endorsed shop doing the exact breach of privacy that they accuse the independent repair shops of.

[@PimmpinnGiraffe]

That documentary really just went "neighbors have a choice in the food that they eat." and then panned the camera to a group of people huddled around a baby laying on the ground...

[@MaverickFJR]

John Stossel and Sharyl Attkisson are the best old school investigative journalists to be found these days!

[@SomeGuysg]

One victory in a war is not something to be cheering about. But it does give hope to many that are still trying to win the fight.

[@1337slic3]

"And neighbors have a choice in the food they eat" *shows people gathered around a baby* Uhhhhh

[@WinginWolf]

My choice! Lolll

[@jacklondon5618]

Govt needs a lot more transparency when it comes to these corporate handouts

[@brkbtjunkie]

Ive owned a local company for 11 years. Ive been offered zero in tax abatements and in fact pay both the employer and employee side taxes for the county, state and federal government on every dollar I make.

[@ryanmcinnis9278]

More people need to watch these videos, not perfect but they do give a nice insight to what is happening

[@LordsofMedia]

Everyone needs to stop paying taxes.

[@user-qi7xx5ih6z]

Hahaha sure, we dont need public services, right?

[@LordsofMedia]

@@user-qi7xx5ih6z No federal services for sure. What services are you referring to? We need to get away from corruption more than we need "services"

[@eod_dan5745]

I really appreciated this segment, I am a totally disabled veteran trying to start a small farm of my own. Separately, I would also like to call out Walmart and it's corporate welfare policies. Most folks do not realize that Walmart employs mostly part-time employees so that they do not have to provide benefits, most importantly health insurance. Taxpayers end up subsidizing many of their employees benefits through government run programs. It is a shame that Walmart can come into a town and put every competitor out of business, sell mostly foreign made junk, and hire the vast majority of their workers as part-time for little more than minimum wage without providing benefits. I would love to see Mr. Stossel take them on in a future segment.

[@tomfoolery5832]

My grocery business of 19 years and employing more than 40 employees struggled for 2 years after the city that I supported all along sold me out. In the name of progress they gave the "Big Guys" several millions dollars in free infrastructure improvements and years of tax abatements by creating a "Community Improvement District". I actually stayed around a year longer than I should have because many of my employees were like family but in the end the business succumbed to the loss of sales. Some of my employees eventually got jobs at the new store at a greatly reduced wage and loss of health insurance. This is the way of our country and I am afraid that there is no going back.

[@SoloRenegade]

this is all about Corporatism, this is not what capitalism is. Capitalism does not engage in subsidies, does not favor laws that restrict or put small competitors out of business...

[@hendrikdependrik1891]

Corporatism is capitalism when the winners of capitalism are writing their own rules. Regarding the free market government has only one job to do (regulating competition) and even for that they are too corrupt and incompetent.

[@snorkelfish]

Corporatism and capitalism are one in the same. Corporatism is just grown up capitalism. When capitalists gain money and influence they create corporatism to protect their capital and keep others from taking from it.

[@SoloRenegade]

@@snorkelfish wrong. Corporatism is what happens when capitalism ceases to be enforced. Corporatism is anti-competitive, capitalism is pro-competition. Corporatism is when capitalist companies lobby the gov for bailouts, subsidies, occupational licensure, restricting the number of doctors there can be, passing laws to prevent small businesses from competing with them so they can create effective monopolies and deliver low quality products at high prices.... Capitalism is the opposite of that. But capitalism requires gov intervention and enforcement to preserve. it's people like you that don't know the difference that results in capitalism not being enforced, and enabling corporatism to take over.

[@snorkelfish]

@@SoloRenegade again when capitalist gain money and influence through capitalism, they use that money and influence to lobby for political favors. Capitalism can only care about one thing and that is year over year profits. It cares about that at the cost of everything else. So if that means buying political favors to keep competition out, or get government handouts, that’s what they’ll do. Corporatism is just late game capitalism. Plain and simple

[@SoloRenegade]

@@snorkelfish Capitalism is not "year over year profit", that's the myth of inifinite growth economics. The US operated for years without that mentality. You can spin facts all you like, but doesn't make you right.

[@jiffyb333]

Love to see stories looking into this. Shocking when you see a small town farmer going up against that many corporate interests.

[@spaceghost5026]

"We're the government, and we're here to help."

[@RezaQin]

This is why all taxes should be thrown out and a flat tax should be put in place. Get rid of the lobbyists. Why would I want to pay my tax dollars to convince a business to come? Their products should be the incentive.

[@matthewm9541]

Thank you John for being so active lately. We all need these videos now more than ever.

[@ChristopherRyans]

John Stossel's the best! Send this video to everyone

[@briankay4229]

When I was a kid, (1966) I remember our city was getting a shopping center built. It had 2 new grocery stores, (located at opposite ends)) and a Woolworths in the middle. That was a big deal then. Within a year all the mom and pop stores were forced to close.

[@ColinTherac117]

That victory for the local farmer made me super proud of my home state of Indiana! God it feels good when something goes right/better for once.

[@porterwake3898]

Guy: Taxes should go to roads, police, education, firemen. Yeah, there are lobbyists and unions fighting tooth and nail for every penny too.

[@ordinary_deepfake]

Imagine if people believed that public servents actually did things like servants like hey I fought for your rights and we won or lost but I don't want any extra money just the joy of winning or losing

[@justthefacts4216]

@@ordinary_deepfake That is because the media (including Stossel) needs meat, so they point out the less than 1% of the time where problems/corruption happen and magnify the problem. There are 350 million people in this country but the media makes you think that most of them are effected by what they cover, they are not.

[@b-chroniumproductions3177]

@@justthefacts4216 corruption happens 1% of the time lolwut? It's near constant.

[@harstoft]

“The taxes should go to roads, schools…” No, they should stay in the pocket of the tax payer.

[@eustacebagge3869]

Exactly, road tax... gasoline tax... car tax... sales tax... And the roads are still shit, what else do they need to do their job?

[@thesaintmustwalkalone708]

Schools are the last place tax dollars should go. They are indoctrination children and so wasteful. Parents could take those tax dollars and hire one on one tutors without the CRT and other ridiculous teachings.

[@nr63kish]

It's unbelievable how entrenched the large conglomerates get into government, and then earn all the shady deals.

[@law-abiding-criminal]

Government messes everything up

[@techguy651]

I’m obviously against corporate welfare, but we also shouldn’t glorify small furniture stores. Wife and I recently drove across our state to an IKEA because the price of the couch plus round trip gas was a better value than anything in our local area. With high lumber prices, there is a lot of garbage being peddled as high end furniture right now.

[@showmemo3686]

And IKEA garbage is just that. Great for a dorm room. After four years it's ruined and falling apart.

[@hephaestus6365]

Shrink government; give the states back their power. You start turning this nation into smaller nations, there will be more accountability and control. Feds should handle the damn foreign affairs stuff and let states be run according to the wishes of those in the state.

[@rydaddy2867]

I wish I could Thumb Up this about 1000x!

[@bigsarge2085]

Someone ought to take up a collection for these poor, put-upon corporations.

[@Mrrnobody]

One if not our last honest news reporter.

[@okwaho5316]

Honestly we should find a way to completely remove welfare. For both corporations and private citizens. In the case of private citizens find better ways to help people in these situations that help them get out of it more efficiently. In the case of a massive corporation just do your damn job better like you likely say to your own employees. We are essentially paying for people at the top to do a bad job

[@kylebradley3]

Bank of America was a prime example

[@okwaho5316]

@@kylebradley3 bailing out a bank with tax dollars honestly has to be the biggest slap in the face to anyone who has to work for their money

[@MJA5]

How in the world did the Chinese come to own Smithfield? That's crazy.

[@Timinator62]

Stock Holders voted on the PRICE they would get.

[@yzdatabase4175]

they are going to own half the country within 5 years

[@Dan16673]

chinese are planning while the usa sits around talking about who's genitals are doing what

[@thomasgeorgecastleberry6918]

So corrupt, excellent video Stossel. Our government. what have we created?

[@MachinamasProduction]

I'm from Memphis and love Ikea's myself, but there has already been talk of issues with them keeping that store afloat. Our city is described by retailers as the "discount city" so it makes some sense why they tried to get one here, but what we really need is for that money to go to a reduction in crime. The reason businesses leave Memphis is due to crime. If they would spend the money on that, in my opinion that would do more a lot than government subsidies.

[@sexistspaghettios]

"Here in America, IKEA is best known for meatballs" Is it though?

[@wordman3624]

I thought Ikea was known for selling overpriced crap.

[@erikhowie6421]

Governments must everything up

[@kevinlangrehr5760]

Mr. Stossel, I dont agree with your opinion on vaccines but the perfection of you being a REAL reporter is that it is each individual's choice in what was once was the U.S.A. Please keep fighting the good fight for the wellness of our nation as you have for all these years.

[@rigatonijacobs]

You don't have to give tax breaks if everyone has the same tax