This is the Biggest Food Scandal in History

[@jer1776]

Im starting to think our entire economy is price fixed.

[@TostonDePana]

it's very likely data driven pricing schemes have led us to a price fixed economy.

[@07wrxtr1]

Welcome to “stakeholder capitalism”

[@oligarchy-usa]

It is a rigged boom-bust-bailout cycle economic system, & it serves to funnel working-class "wealth" to the predatory elite. It's been that way since at least Reagan.

[@T.R.75]

it is.

[@marksykes3817]

@@jer1776 IT IS!

[@Spiral.Dynamics]

The monopolies are draining the working class and the poorest are now homeless.

[@Wahunganganshapunck]

You can't be homeless. That's illegal now!

[@who2u333]

With the support of bought political parties.

[@sullivancalgary]

NO MORE TENT CITIES

[@Barbara-jn2gw]

sullivancalgary when America ceases to be good she will cease to be great.

[@Joe-rb8ju]

@@Spiral.Dynamics what. Middle class? Middle class has become the working poor.

[@Lithdren]

They're doing the same thing with rental prices. I dont think jail is enough.

[@animejanai4657]

Housing is a bit different because much of the "affordable" housing is bought up by the government in order to provide taxpayer-subsidized housing to social welfare users. Landlords can get tax breaks on top of the rental, so in those cases, a normal renter cannot compete. Thus rentail prices go up.

[@apple-cv2xj]

They are traitors, enemies to the people and the country

[@reiniergarcia]

Maybe because you don't have problems paying a super duper high rent, for no F reason, in the. middle of a bidenflation. Rich people never care about poor people. Some day you will regret all that shit and you will lose it all. We will all lose because of greedy ppl like you who on tops of that mocks of poor people.

[@nailbanger2]

Now do petroleum corporate profits of 300 billion while auto usage is down.

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

​@@animejanai4657um... no. where did you come up with this?

[@HellsKells666]

People need to actually go to prison for corruption like this. Actual, full prison sentences. No golden parachutes.

[@JohnnyLobes]

They do in some other countries!

[@SgtJoeSmith]

For unionizing?

[@Spankdass]

They don't go to prison, they buy politicians.

[@veilenj]

​@SgtJoeSmith hah! Everybody look at the freak! He even liked his own comment. 😂

[@SgtJoeSmith]

@veilenj haha everyone look at the fay got with nothing better to do or say!

[@andrewgee5608]

Interesting that none of the mainstream corporate billionaire owned news media covered this at all. Thank you for covering this.

[@fw-190]

Because covering a bunch of migrants that will probably end up as illegal worker in a texan farm is way more appealing to the average American than scandal like this. And also because the whole economy is like this so journalists don't want to upset the cash overlords that fund there job

[@techcafe0]

the current FTC Chair, Lina Khan, has been taking on these big corporate monopolies and that's why they want her fired, because she's actually doing her job, unlike her predecessors.

[@Jcewazhere]

She'll probably be removed if Trump wins. Make sure you get everyone you can to vote for Kamala.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

She is a hero to the people and she needs to be protected

[@jer1776]

Kamala needs to commit to reappointing Lina.

[@dianaledesma9031]

Love her!

[@Desenrad]

How can we make sure Lina is kept in power? A Couple fines does absolutely nothing if the problem isnt fixed as fast as possible. I hear about companies getting some fine all the time, but not a single time I see it as a proper stop to the problem in question.

[@rileywhetstone1755]

Our country really hasn't been a free market for awhile, now. Companies work together to keep prices high, and wages low.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

what we need to realize is that when corporations have complete control over the market, the market is just as far from being free as it would be if the government controlled everything. a fair market requires heavy regulation to keep things fair and prevent manipulation.

[@piggynatorcool668]

​@@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehrchecks and balances really are supposed to fix this stuff, it's just all the interests on both sides are towards themselves and against the people

[@meishaleonard8621]

This is what happens with free markets. They cause privatization, monopolization, and deregulation of the richest private owners and investment companies. Every capitalist country has had this happen, eventually and it's not just an American thing currently. Most countries in Europe are suffering the same problem because capitalism has gone global

[@lucretius8050]

It is free, just too free. Free market has be regulated or it will end like a Monopoly game.

[@MrG360oneX]

I remember a King of the Hill episode where Hank's boss, Strickland, was working with his competitors doing this exact same thing and Hank had to save their butts cus the Feds where about to arrest them

[@samuraijack1371]

This is what you get unfettered corporate power, low corporate taxes. They never benefit the society. They are meant to benefit a select few

[@jjk2one]

And they abandon their mansion to buy a bigger one.

[@kasahadragon9499]

​@@jjk2oneand they'll move inland to the cheap land they bought decades ago when they knew about climate warming resulting in mass migration in the next couple of decades 😡

[@Eat_The_Rich142]

Yep. Thanks Ronald Reagan.

[@joefer5360]

@@Eat_The_Rich142 The only Republican who LOVES slavery.

[@ProleDaddy]

*Capitalism* never benefits society. It capitalizes on society.

[@PoshanMind8132]

*I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, and we are finding it impossible to replace them. We can get by, but can't seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30 years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.*

[@NatalieScott6124]

I feel your pain mate, as a fellow retiree, I'd suggest you look into passive index fund investing and learn some more. For me, I had my share of ups and downs when I first started looking for a consistent passive income so I hired an expert advisor for aid, and following her advice, I poured $30k in value stocks and digital assets, Up to 200k so far and pretty sure I'm ready for whatever comes.

[@BoyesMorlas3058]

My advice: for newbies to grow financially this year, invest. Saving is good, but investing elevates your finances. Why newbie make huge losses on trade is because investing without proper guidance can lead to mistakes and losses. that will stop you from trading, this has been one of the biggest problem to new traders, I've learned this from my own experience

[@NatalieScott6124]

Tracy Britt Cool Consulting was my hope during the 'bear summer' last year. I made so many mistakes but also learned so much from it, and of course from Tracy.

[@Cynthiajoy2050]

I'm surprised that this name is being mentioned here, I stumbled upon one of her clients testimonies on CNBC news last week...

[@Cynthiajoy2050]

I keep hearing a lot about Mis. Tracy Britt Cool Consulting O'Reilly, she must be really good

[@mshepard2264]

We noticed that what we buy at the local farmers market is cheaper than the food in the grocery store. It didn’t used to be that way.

[@animejanai4657]

Not for me. The farmers' markets here (all four I've visited) are all higher-priced than the supermarket EXCEPT for flower bouquets. The market continues to be cheapest for those. Otherwise, all those artisan breads, buns, jams, vegetables, and more are higher priced than the supermarket. I've given up trying to shop at our local farmers' markets for affordable food.

[@jimjmcd]

If you think agribusiness is abusing consumers--and they are--you should see what they're doing to farmers.

[@SundayCookingRemix]

Yes indeed Food Inc the documentary

[@kevint2555]

Absolutely, they are putting them out of business by depressing prices paid. I grew up on a farm, and it really pisses me off what they are doing to farmers.

[@drawingmomentum]

It's too bad most farmers don't have heirloom seeds to sell. Those r expensive. Hard to find.

[@Noctuavida]

Can’t even buy local meat from a butcher anymore

[@JerriJohnson-c7q]

@@drawingmomentumdidn’t Monsanto shut that down by forcing Farmers to buy seeds from them ONLY?

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

MAKE PRICE FIXING ILLEGAL AGAIN

[@SpaceRanger187]

Make not being a Patriot illegal again

[@privacyvalued4134]

The solution is easy: Stop electing people to positions of authority who accept money from big corporations. The vast majority of Congress (Republicans and Democrats) have enriched themselves for pennies on the dollar of big corporations and sold out the entire nation.

[@mattbosley3531]

@@SpaceRanger187 I was born in this country but I don't have to like it. And before you tell me to go somewhere else you have to have money for that.

[@baoquoc3710]

he forgot to write it "make being a *patriot felon* legal again"

[@sawyer4981]

@@SpaceRanger187 Patriots embrace small business, not suck the sausage of the corporations killing them.

[@geoffl]

it's easy to fix prices when 4 companies control 80% of the meat processing industry. pass the PRIME act to increase competition.

[@ThomisticAmerican13FOX]

This is the core problem of entire food supply chain.

[@nosac1230]

Exactly. This should not have been allowed to happen in the first place.

[@tombolt13thexehanort29]

We don't need a new law, there are already laws against it.

[@therasco400]

You need more then that needed. You have to make sure the OWNERS do not control as much.

[@aaronmcconkey1062]

And profit margins caps

[@beegbraining]

Rent prices have also been subjected to price fixing. Can we please send these people to jail?

[@Bjm21703]

My fridge looks empty. My bank account looks low. My car insurance is through the roof, excellent driving record. My taxes are axes.

[@jordanleach1747]

We are living in a horrible time in America. This is ridiculous. We gotta share this information for the masses.

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

not confident it would change perception

[@LavenderSkyla]

If trump doesn't back this all Republicans won't listen. They are so brain washed they won't listen to anything that doesn't come out of his mouth

[@jordanleach1747]

@@jusletursoulglobaby I would hope it would cause a snowball effect.

[@interspect_]

Not that bad

[@harpernicholson1]

Canada too

[@theprecipiceofreason]

An entire industry's decision makers going into a room with a sign in the back that says "CHARGE MORE FOR IT" and then, they leave, all agreeing to blame the sign if they get in trouble. The sign writer then charges a consulting fee, while getting tax breaks as a technology company.

[@Praisethesunson]

Yeah but used an app to do it so it's totally different from a cartel setting prices. -Corporate lawyers

[@seeseabee7165]

Don't forget to throw in an AI spin for the messaging and the sign design and then blame the user because he/she did not validate the info for correctness.

[@cynthiag3065]

WOW, you guys are 😂 that so true.

[@stephend9899]

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” This is the unchanged MO, the SCHMUCKS have been playing on nations for centuries.

[@Skycouncil_Sentinel_777]

Thanks for shining a light on this criminal behavior by corporate America.

[@brendadrew834]

@Skycouncil_Sentinel_777 Read this...“We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.” ―per the late great FDR's brilliant visionary VP Henry A. Wallace, champion of the 99 percent who knew these far right extremists/MAGA formerly called "AMERICAN FASCISTS" in the 1940s, better than anyone except on the Thom Hartman show here on KZbin where they interview Wallace's relatives! "knowledge is power"...self-empowerment!

[@anthonygillette]

0:54 I was literally saying this ever since the egg shortage and chicken shortage. I’ve been saying for literal years that these price increases out of nowhere made no sense

[@kawkasaurous]

You're aware during that time the FDA was requesting farmers to cull their chickens to prevent an outbreak of bird flu?

[@Stickmanght]

Here we have been told all our lives that competition is good, that we encourage competition, that it lower prices and increases quality for the consumer. Yet our policies and enforcement actions have seemingly discouraged such competition and encourages the exact opposite.

[@cliveklg7739]

Agri-stats isn't the only 'constultant' helping corporations collude to price gouge.

[@turkizno]

And to think, McKinsey and Co is still also active and they are a major threat to the working people as well.

[@lexecomplexe4083]

Yeah there is a leasing agency cabal / lease cartel using a price fixing tool to raise prices across the country. Last I checked they were confirmed to operate in at least 13 states. Its probably much more than that, if not the entire country. (Yes, even Hawaii is not out of reach for these corpo fucks) Basically my entire city of Seattle is 99% owned and operated by members of the leasing cartel. Whether they be property management companies or just rich individuals, they're all colluding together. Its why rent has skyrocketed so much in the past 10+ years. They need to be stopped, or nobody will be able to afford to live anywhere but in a tent. If they have their way, we'll all live in tiny 80 sq ft cubicles with sleeping bags under a desk being charged $2,700 a month for the privilege.

[@maivu6435]

What's that company that helps home prices and rentals determine pricing again?!

[@samaraisnt]

First domino is the most important.

[@idleoutcaster]

@@maivu6435Realpage

[@dheeraj_one]

I hope everyone realizes it's not just about profit, it's about keeping the masses in check.

[@ariabrown6779]

Yeah we have to work more hours just to not starve so we can't organize. I've had to rely on food banks the last few years.

[@Naturalintelligence30]

Yup exactly 💯 it's actually more about that than anything else.how else so you control 300 million angry and frustrated Americans? Dumb them down with mindless TV media and entertainment. Put chemicals and toxins in THIER food and water supply all to keep them docile weak and subservient. Easiest way to control. Power and control is the name of the game. Always has been always will be.

[@betqpublic9901]

Fascist playbook

[@SgtJoeSmith]

Yep. That's what unions like this do

[@dheeraj_one]

@@SgtJoeSmith Cartels not unions.

[@dano3523]

This is what happens when you allow unfettered access of corporate money to politicians and judges.

[@stephend9899]

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” This is the unchanged MO, the SCHMUCKS have been playing on nations for centuries.

[@GaryOsmondson]

Someone needs to spend time in prison for this and repay consumers for the fraud they committed.

[@TheZincroofer]

YOU ARE MISSING THE FRONT END OF THE STORY OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY. My cousin is a 4th generation cattle rancher. Over the last three years, cattle buyers have cut the price of steers by 25% and 30% on cows. The food industry is killing family owned ranchs and farms.

[@julmaass]

The invisible hand of the market spends a lot of the time under the table

[@UtubeAW]

Yes!

[@idontagree9658]

The proverbial hand is ONLY, actually, "invisible" because actual transparency, not invisibility, would require greater collective agreement & wiser choices from the credible intelligence. "What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive."

[@stephend9899]

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” This is the unchanged MO, the SCHMUCKS have been playing on nations for centuries.

[@timothyrockwell2638]

Having lived in England, the food I bought there was significantly cheaper AND higher quality than food I buy in the US.

[@tomjones2157]

@timothyrockwell2638 I live in New Zealand, and friends and relatives who live in the UK say the food quality is garbage compared to here. Your ice cream is worse than the US!

[@BOZ_11]

This is just a slightly more sophisticated price fixing cartel. 100% illegal

[@Praisethesunson]

@@BOZ_11 We aren't fixing prices. We have an app that finds the prices and fixes them so we make the most money. That's totally okay. -Corporate lawyers

[@brendadrew834]

@BOZ-11 “We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.” ― Henry A. Wallace The late great FDR's brilliant visionary VP, champion of the 99 percent who knew these far right extremists/MAGA i.e "AMERICAN FASCISTS" in the 1930s and 40s better than anyone, yet barely gets mentioned except on the Thom Hartman show where they've interviewed Wallace's relatives! "knowledge is power"...self-empowerment!

[@jez1522]

Thank you Ellison for your work

[@ADHD_Gamer_PhD]

We have s similar problem in Norway, with store chains send "price-chasers" to find competitors prices to coordinate higher prices. It was ruled illegal to share prices by the Norwegian competition authority. So now after some years, the store chains get a 4.9 billion NOK (490 000 000 USD) bill.

[@DeenanTheKemon1]

Imagine someone who would starve several toddlers to death so their Bank Balance went from $20,000,000,000.00 to $20,000,000,050.00 Now imagine that is EXACTLY who runs these Corporations.

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

let's drill down on that thought, ok? just imagine the people who are making significantly less than that and fight tooth and nail to reduce or seek to eliminate SNAP for those save starving babies. Now imagine the people who support the individuals (making less than those fighting) who do that

[@aygwm]

Don’t worry, the people at the top are doing a lot more than that to toddlers

[@a_moth5584]

That’s assuming they would’ve only charged 50$

[@blehgrossmylife5067]

​@@aygwm Driving up the costs of housing, food, healthcare, every essential need and more, also actively stops/discourages more toddlers from even being born/made because they're making it impossibly expensive to raise children.

[@SatanEatsJesus]

​@@blehgrossmylife5067 and then complaining about declining birth rates and "family values"

[@Joe-rb8ju]

The ranchers are not getting any of that bump.

[@Larry-v9r]

The rancher is left, holding the bag.

[@Joe-rb8ju]

@@Larry-v9r selling their ranches.

[@RabbitWatchShop]

As if I care about a rancher and his abuse of farm animals for profit

[@TheLOD2099]

Ranchers own their land and companies, they over work and under pay their workers and don’t offer health insurance or benefits. They vote for the lawmakers who want to deregulate companies and laws. Ranchers are just as guilty and corrupt.

[@Larry-v9r]

@@RabbitWatchShop lol

[@ManiacRacing]

Giant companies ALWAYS conspire however they can. That's what makes money. Hurting people is profitable.

[@Vid_Master]

"Im just doing my job!"

[@DeenanTheKemon1]

​@@Vid_Masterthen comes "just following orders.."

[@Darkvalentine333]

Which is exactly why anti-trust laws and corporate regulations are so important. You can't expect people to willingly work against their own best interests, especially not in the face of massive profits, so you have to create a system that prevents abuse.

[@maximemeis2867]

Except that nobody was hurt. You are not force to buy from them. Competitors are free to enter the market and start a price war. If you don't like the prices they offer, don't buy from them. Buy from the local not for profit workers coops.

[@ManiacRacing]

@@maximemeis2867 Simp harder.

[@tzgaming207]

There was an interview with a VP of one of these food companies, not sure if it was Tyson or another, but the phrase that stuck with me was "we raised prices because we felt it was what the market could bear." In other words, they saw the consumer with money leftover in their pocket, & said, "Hey, why isn't that money our money? Give us that money!"

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

2:10 So, this is basically what caused chicken wing to go up from $0.99/lb to $4/lb???

[@francismarion6088]

Perhaps football and tailgating. Everyone loves those chicken wings, and are now BBQ ing their own?? Beef and ribs are two expensive, so more demand for the wings??

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

@@francismarion6088 Maybe, but how many people are really tailgating that will affect the price all year long. Wing prices never go down, at least where I live, not even for bulk frozen wings.

[@andrewrockwell1282]

The rental market did the same thing.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

it will soon invade every single industry. it's profitable to the biggest businesses, and creates an a whole new industry of consulting. soon nothing will be untouched by price fixing, except of course our wages.

[@thedognoseknows4451]

U mean IS doing the same thing

[@distantyahoo]

vote. don't gimme that "it doesn't matter" crap. vote.

[@Minney-Me]

​@@distantyahoo but it really doesn't matter ...electoral votes overrules Pop. Votes. Presidents are just Muppets! 😅

[@michellem6826]

All industries seem to be doing this. The greed is beyond out of control.

[@maximemeis2867]

Then stop shopping with them. Spend your own money only with non for profit workers coops.

[@michellem6826]

@@maximemeis2867 not everyone lives near one or has the ability to get to one. Additionally, most places are part of this. You may think they are not and then you find out the store is owned by one. Really, the solution is to stop it from happening in the first place.

[@angelofdeath275]

@@maximemeis2867pulling the "blame the consumer" is not as creative as you think. 😊

[@oafkad]

This is the biggest food scandal...so far.

[@crptnite]

Nah the biggest scandal is that food is free.

[@lsmith8659]

lmao yea wait til they find out what the "food" is made of! 🤣😂🤣☠

[@Praisethesunson]

​@@crptnitewhere is food free?

[@ablet85]

Nestle did worse

[@lsmith8659]

id advise everyone to get growing on a garden lmao im so disgusted by these meat industry fux!! and think of the poor animals! smh.. what happened to the factory farm outrage?? 🤦‍♀️ like ppl just forgot? wtf

[@SolarizeYourLife]

BUY LOCALLY.... I don't buy from these big companies...sadly they don't pass on the profit to the farmers....

[@Shoezilla89]

When meat is too expensive, eat the rich

[@sourceenergy24]

Real solutions for real people! Haha

[@MattAngiono]

No can do... I'm opposed to eating anything toxic. But I'm also vegan, so I don't care about the price of meat. If anything, that's good in my book. The suffering caused by eating meat is totally unethical

[@Shoezilla89]

@@MattAngiono I was a Butina operator in a slaughterhouse for a year, I'm probably the wrong person to virtue signal to.

[@MattAngiono]

@@Shoezilla89 virtue signal? Being vegan isn't about virtue signaling. Having ethics and discussing them isn't about making myself feel or appear superior. It's about ending the cycle of abuse. If you've worked in a slaughterhouse, you know what I'm talking about. I've had to go to one for work too. I used to run a BBQ for a decade. You can change if you actually wanted to.... think about it. Think about the pain those animals experienced. How would you feel in that situation?

[@NightmareRex6]

the rich are probbaly full if prions thugh. but free of everythign else so.....

[@8ema533]

Good luck with that. Some years back during Obama he sent Eric Holder and a Rancher/Lawyer from Texas all over the country having hearings with farmers and ranchers about unfair contracts in poultry, hogs, what ever. If you couldn't come to the hearing you could write in your complaint. It was unanimous, same complaints about contracts all over the country. So the meat lobby lobbied Congress for if I remember right around $9 million. All swept under the rug never to be heard about again. You have no idea how many meat companies own politicians. I should know I was a poultry grower for 19 years. I could write a novel about unfair practices. They are the legal version of the Mafia

[@Praisethesunson]

The Mafia at least wanted to make sure you can pay them back. The chicken monopoly will strait up bankrupt you without a second thought.

[@evnejg94]

Just because things were wrong before doesn’t mean we should stop trying to fix the problem. Will the current political class fix it, obviously remains to be seen and I have my doubts as do many others I’m sure. To be quite honest, I think you should write that book, I’d certainly like to buy a copy and I’m sure others would too. The more average Joe city/suburban folks know about this situation the better and farmers/ranchers/poultry growers like you are on the front line.

[@S.A.White...]

Would read that novel.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@8ema533 politicians come cheap. Especially at the level of state government. The largest hog farmer in Iowa lives in Florida. He bought the Iowa political system for less than 100k.

[@Whoddathunk]

No one went to jail for mortgage fraud, what makes you think people will go to jail for making $$$$$

[@raymondgordon-c2n]

they are not just a show

[@NA_49erFan]

Should go to prison, but when was last time any white collars pirates faced charges. I have zero faith we can fix this.

[@dennisholliday2454]

Enron, and MCI Worldcom

[@Praisethesunson]

@@dennisholliday2454 that means none this century.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@NA_49erFan in Vietnam a white collar criminal faced real justice.

[@wmpx34]

@@Praisethesunsonwhat about ya boy SBF?

[@KonekoPurrrfection]

They get slapped with fines that don't even come close to the profits they make so they lose absolutely nothing

[@stuffnuns]

Damn, Thanks for laying out this scandal in a clear, intelligent and concise way. This price gouging on the American people needs to end. Soon.

[@AbsurdCats]

1. Lobby money, pact money illegal 2. New legislation to rip apart monopolies 3. Price gouging laws 4. Higher corporate tax rate 5. Higher minimum wage

[@Joyful_Smiles]

6. Expand welfare to middle class. From Section 8 to SNAP.

[@Punsmaster2]

7. Abolish patents on medicine and agriculture. The only reason Insulin costs so DAMN much is because there is literally one company with the legal rights to sell it.

[@kevint2555]

Wish someone would do the same thing for land lords. They use similar software to share rent information, raising rents, and manipulating availability.

[@Vagabond_Etranger]

Already have. I just saw a video a few months ago, where they expose a site (forgot the name) about what you just said.

[@kevint2555]

@@Vagabond_Etranger On Friday the DOJ filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the company responsible for eliminating competition in the rental industry. www.npr.org/2024/08/23/nx-s1-5087586/realpage-rent-lawsuit-doj-real-estate-software-landlords-justice-department-price-fixing#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Justice,scheme%20to%20drive%20up%20rents.

[@jude175]

Harris did it once and she says she's going to again.

[@phubarr]

There needs to be a charge for "crimes against the economy".

[@tombolt13thexehanort29]

There already is? Open coordination between competitors on prices is already illegal.

[@rheahorvath9274]

Yes. Ideal verbage and good start.

[@Crushanator1]

Fuck the economy's feelings, this is literally already an actual crime against every American. If our politicians weren't openly bribed and our cops didn't exist to enforce power these thieves would already be in prison

[@who2u333]

Sounds like lobbyists will start working on modifying the Sherman Act.

[@bjarkiengelsson]

Another reason we need to ban bribery. Oh wait~!

[@Praisethesunson]

Lobbyists work to make sure the existing laws aren't enforced. Without enforcing laws are just words on paper.

[@sarah.s.flanagan]

**lights a candle, looks into a mirror, starts chanting** "Lina Kahn, Lina Kahn, Lina Kaaaaaaaaahn"

[@JackDazey]

Every industry does it. We are the fools for giving up our divine nature of hunting and agriculture.

[@Punsmaster2]

We still hunt and do agriculture, just on a larger scale. In fact, we make so many crops that farmers have to neutralize the excess, otherwise they would flood the market and drive prices too low to turn a profit. We live in such excess that the goods must be kept artificially scarce for the manufacturers to get by. Instead of embracing this, we fear it. We close the market instead of busting any common notions of "scarcity" wide open as they ought to be.

[@JackDazey]

@Punsmaster2 thanks for the credible facts of MORE MANIPULATION!!!!

[@kevinwolak1829]

It’s one example laid out in detail in the report that shows meatpacking CEOs petitioning their allies in the federal government to curb any safety measures that “could reduce their production and profitability.”

[@707Berto]

The GOP is labeling Harris' intent to go after this as price control ffs.

[@jer1776]

Theyre making Harris seem way more based than she actually is

[@pseudoscientist8010]

Not the same,that is a strawman argument.

[@DarthCyfe6]

The irony is that it's price control by the companies themselves

[@mrb152]

Um no left wing economists are calling Harris idiotic plan price control because that's exactly what it is. The solution to this kest issue has nothing to do with price gouging, it is traditional antitrust which HAS BEEN ILLEGAL FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.

[@mrb152]

Also, if Harris wanted to stop this she could do it now, with current laws. But this happening now and no democrat even cares to mention it. Instead they try to obfuscate actual inflation of the US dollar by their policies.

[@johnweda6537]

Not only robbing but poisoning too

[@ezgoodnight]

Any time companies track pricing in this way, they are doing it for one reason: to make the prices go up. It's easy to put your thumb on the scale when you've built the only scale.

[@Lost_Hwasal]

Its not enough to stop this, the people that profited need to pay back what they stole.

[@TheKeyote]

I think we should go the other direction with this. We should keep Agri Stats and use it to regulate how much can be charged for these goods. Price fix for the people!

[@abelincoln3261]

It's big data and hedge funds and huge investment consortiums. They buy farms, funeral homes, RV parks Trailer parks apartments condo etc.. and drive market prices up by not listing not selling etc... it's all about price fixing in 2024.

[@lexecomplexe4083]

It is an actual Cabal of property management companies and wealthy individuals colluding through RealPage as a Leasing Cartel. They own and/or operate more than 99% of my city of Seattle. Anything affordable is a fucking god send, and when I say affordable, in this case, I really mean "just barely able to make budget." Because nothing is actually affordable here. Nothing. Nothing..

[@jborth2010]

As a software engineer who works on databases, this infuriates me. This is the type of thing I despise and had a class on to prevent. It's called ethics.

[@trinsit]

This same scheme happened in housing with rentals. I bet this scheme is prevalent across the board.

[@walterfitzhugh6501]

They do the same thing in the plumbing industry, asphalt, and oil industry. They collect data and have back room deals to set prices.

[@RinoaL]

We need to make it so all stock owners of public companies have their names publicly listed.

[@Sythemn]

"People need to go to jail" - duh... We have decades of wealthy people doing catestrlphically bad things and suffering 0 repercussions. Fines are just the cost of doing business. Jail time, not so much.

[@Speed_of_Sloth]

It truly is getting harder and harder to put a good meal on the table. It's infuriating that this company even exists!

[@crptnite]

Yeah we'll have to return to homesteading in order to put actual Good meals on our tables, unfortunately.

[@Praisethesunson]

Homesteading was giving land stolen from Indians to people willing to live in the middle of nowhere. ​ Technological developments in agriculture have been incredibly useful. You just don't see any of that because all the benefit is hoarded by the richest 1000 people.

[@margaretwordnerd5210]

@@Praisethesunson in the 1960s there was a new "homestead" movement you've never heard of. From suburbanites with big gardens and small chicken coops to sustainable farms where the family grows nearly all their food, this is the kind of homesteading people speak of nowadays. Google Mother Earth News.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@margaretwordnerd5210 So instead of colonialism it's the hippy version of return to monke? That's hilariously individualist and socially regressive. Which checks out for Murica. Modern agriculture can sustainably feed a population of 13 billion today. The only problem is that control over production and distribution in agriculture is unilaterally in the hands of mega conglomerates.

[@margaretwordnerd5210]

@@Praisethesunson yikes...you actually respect agri-biz conglomerates and scorn people with vegetable gardens? How hilariously consumerist, Ans regressive both socially and ecologically. You should learn about WWII Victory gardens. You will be so amused that across America, Britain, and other civilized nations people touched dirt repeatedly! There are health and psychological benefits to gardening, isn't that funny? Haha, did you know some people ride bikes? How long has it been since you've seen nature? Movies with outdoor scenes don't count. You were kinda cute when you just didn't know there was more than one type of homesteading, but now you sound like someone who's never played outdoors and thinks that makes him the coolest kid on the block.

[@christopherweidensee6133]

Agreed. Not just fines, there should be prison for conspiratorial price gouging!

[@Akalos1]

They make the laws, not you. You will meaninglessly complain and call for their imprisonment while they will eventually pass laws through their pocket senators doing the same to you for complaining. You are a slave. There IS a solution, however, if you are willing to risk your life.

[@Salty_Legionnaire]

Since Roman times, and probably much earlier, people have been put in positions representing the bankers, not the other way around. They managed to mask that nicely during capitalist growth, but that is now over. We have to learn to take care of ourselves again.

[@maximemeis2867]

disgusting idea. You are not entitled to their production. They have a right to set their price. If you don't like it, don't buy it. And if you think prices should go down, enter their market with cheaper prices.

[@fonalone]

When I worked at a chicken joint and did corporate training they would literally tell me “the chicken industry is a mafia” with a 100% serious tone

[@ddprepper5227]

Excellent report 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@michaeld4861]

I guarantee this is going on in every industry. As we've already seen with rent and now food prices.

[@esgee3829]

sounds exactly like realpage in apartment rentals

[@jer1776]

This must be going on in every industry.. If not, it soon will..

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

yes the entire issue needs to be addressed as a whole, completely outlawed. unfortunately I fear even if kamala wins she wont do anything so drastic. at best she'll undo some of trumps damage.

[@FrankLy-oy2bi]

@@jer1776 will depend on what happens with congressional elections imo. courts have made it harder for ftc to regulate with rulemaking. congressional fix is necessary. but that will require political control and drive.

[@lexecomplexe4083]

This. My entire city of Seattle is OVER 99% owned and/or operated by the Leasing Cartel. It is a Cabal of both large firms and property management companies and wealthy private individuals colluding to snatch up all available homes and fix prices higher and higher across the board year over year. The routine of moving every couple years because your rent went up to go to a cheaper place will eventually become an impossibility. It almost is already. There won't be anywhere cheaper to move. Eventually every working class person and family will be forced to live in their cars, and then they'll all collude to buy up all available parking spaces and fix those prices too. Then we'll all live in tents, and they'll buy up all the land too. Corporations don't just want more money. They want EVERYTHING. They want ALL the money and ALL the power. And if we don't stop them soon, they will have it.

[@FrankLy-oy2bi]

@@lexecomplexe4083 I feel your frustration. your city is my city, seems like every american city...when i was searching, i specifically excluded, very quickly, properties owned or managed by the big companies. In one city this eliminated ~20% of listings. in the other, it eliminated 30-40% of listings. little time consuming but does narrow the search quickly. and in so doing, when i rented, i lived in just a couple of different places over 10 years. the landlords are real humans and you can negotiate rent with them when market dictates. they appreciate a bit of self-maintenance of property when not strictly required by the lease and respect you in kind with addressing the big stuff (like broken appliances). It's my dirty little secret and the one I share with all friends who still rent. and i think my approach is unusual enough because competition for units i ended up renting was not nearly as tight as seemed to be the case for the "greystar" lot. there's so much more to a rental property than it being new and having hired a good photographer to take pics!

[@thatfatman6978]

Back in the good old days when the masses were treated so unfair they rebled.

[@bka8851]

Rebled?

[@CD-vb9fi]

@@bka8851 lots of people are mispellin terms to get round the YT sinsors.

[@CakeDispenser]

​@@bka8851He meant to say rebelled.

[@Akalos1]

Americans will do nothing but allow their wealth to be extracted while these people laugh at you.

[@357CLOUDY]

It might happen...

[@jasonrhodes7047]

As a farmer its obvious to see this in real time. When milk or meat is in demand these large companies pretty much beg the farmers for product but when its not they treat farmers like absolute trash. Regardless of the situation once a product reaches a price in the store it never goes backwards it either stays the same or increases. Companies like DFA Cargill JBS and others have recently been sued for collision but nothing has come from it.

[@jesseseymour4011]

This story should be Massive. Where is everyone?

[@InvisibleHotdog]

To all the vegans/vegetarians preaching in the comments - this happens with more than just meat

[@valeriekehrt7566]

It's happening with everything .

[@jude175]

Say what you mean, not just a cryptic comment.

[@fetlock]

People do need to go to jail.

[@maximemeis2867]

for what? No rights were violated. You are not entitled to producers waging a price war with each other. If you think their prices are too high, enter their market with cheaper prices. Nobody is stopping you.

[@tr6214]

PLEASE do a story on Duke Energy in the Mooresville NC area. You will find sink holes, coal ash, coverups and corruption. Just digging into the NC politics and courts, you'll also find DAs that are appointed by family members, not enough judges, and criminals being let out on the street because they're brining in retired judges and unqualified DAs to cut deals.

[@LastTrueConservative-or4ps]

Ask any corporate lawyer, helping companies break the law with impunity brings BIG bucks!

[@Weaf2727]

Any judge that doesn't see something wrong with this, needs their finances checked.

[@kawkasaurous]

That's not a judges job. A judge is there to ensure fairness based on the laws, and unless a bench trial is requested or the settlement is appealed up, a jury would determine the outcome. And guess who makes the laws?

[@kirbyman1kanden7pf]

​@@kawkasaurouswell now McDonald's is involved so we may well get that jury trial now

[@DarthCyfe6]

Hotels have something extremely similar call STR reports (pronunced star) which provide massive swaths of market data where Revenue departments set pricing based on data from competitors.

[@Praisethesunson]

Fun fact. The meat industry today is more concentrated top to bottom than it was when Upton Sinclair wrote the jungle.

[@maximemeis2867]

Funny fact. You are free to set up your non for profit workers coop and compete with them.

[@trashcatlinol]

​@@maximemeis2867with what land? They've bought or rent most of it.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@maximemeis2867 You will never beat capitalists by playing their game at a systemic disadvantage.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@maximemeis2867 Ah yes. The solution to a rigged system is to try and win the game at a disadvantage. Brilliant idea.

[@mindlessmonk3322]

​@@maximemeis2867 fun fact: You're an absolute moron 😂

[@billmiller9145]

We don't have a "free market economy." We have a series of unregulated monopolies.

[@jude175]

The GOP swears to gut regulations so that it's even easier for their "donors' to become a billionaire.

[@CaptainJacksIsland]

This is massive! This blows that 1845 scandal with the potatos right out of the water.

[@pinballnut-61]

I was on a jury 2 years ago for price fixing in the chicken industry. I wish we could have convicted them, but the evidence was not there. These crooks know how to cover up the crimes they commit.

[@dilutioncreation1317]

Ah this is like the rent fixing software y'all covered as well

[@Pigeon_Flipper]

Good to know their location

[@turkizno]

I'm usually not much for witchhunts... but like... that building... is calling us to it to do very bad things, isn't it.

[@XenaphobeJoe-n1j]

There is no inflation with record corporate profits . There is corporate greed.

[@lightning9279]

Vast quantities of the meat never sell at the stores before they expire. Even with these losses they still make profits. This system has been cooked from the beginning.

[@DunnsDayDash]

So essentially, I would presume that all of the meat shortages we were warned about in the past 20 years, were all planned. Synthetic supply and demand manipulation. If you think this is bad, think about all the other markets that suffer from the same practices, in some shape or form. It doesn’t stop at meat, this is likely happening with vegetables/fruits, computer chips, real estate, automotive, insurance, etc, you name it.

[@SlackersIndustry]

The whole system is rigged

[@stephend9899]

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” This is the unchanged MO, the SCHMUCKS have been playing on nations for centuries.

[@laurensargent9471]

Don’t buy meat except from local family farms if you must. You get what you pay for. Corporate meat is expensive and cruel to workers and animals. No thanks.

[@xxgoodnevil17xx]

My local farms charge 2x to 5x the amount of grocery stores, especially in meat. Its just unaffordable even though I'm sure it's better quality and id love to support them. I do get discounted veggies and fruits for super cheap though in season.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

sorry but that's just not possible for most people, especially if enough people tried to do that for it to actually affect the meat industry. only regulation can stop it.

[@jjk2one]

The crap and antibiotics that the Amish feed the chickens and cows make it trash too. But not near as bad as the grocery store. Corn, soy and wheat is beyond poison but it's better than the sawdust the one Amish farmer is feeding his cows. There is a reason the crops are fermentated into biofuel so fast and cheap.

[@AnotherBadyoga]

Done, it’s substantially cut my meat consumption, , but I lost 10 pounds can actually run now!

[@cleoraasaran9957]

As if local farms aren’t cruel to animals… 😅😅😅

[@ianglenn2821]

5:20 they literally show an illustration where multiple people work together to raise prices on a graph, and they call it "forward motion", give me a break

[@AA-bj1bu]

It took me so long to find this video after seeing it once. All these corporations love keeping secrets for each other. Let's just burn everything to the ground.

[@BlokeonaLake]

Good to know. Our family will be boycotting Hormel, Perdue, and Tyson just for starters.

[@UtubeAW]

Screw these corporate (monster) “persons!” Price fixing! And, Tyson wants to feed you bugs.

[@AngelicaTonatzin]

I literally just got a call yesterday saying that Perdue chicken was recalled because the heavy metal aluminum was found???

[@Numb_]

Modern day price fix ah gotta love it

[@leehayes4019]

Thats what I was about to say. They didnt do it. The algorithm did! We didnt regulate fast enough.

[@asmrfan6543]

I think what we're learning about economics here, is that even if we have a more 'corporate efficient' market, that efficiency saving no longer goes to the people that need it. It's an argument to be less efficient, and better off, too.

[@markapplejohn4376]

Hi from Canada... We, in Canada are also suffering, as consumers and farmers/ranchers, from the giant meat brokers and processors. As these giant companies merge and weed out competitors they co-operate to maximize profits screwing over everyone on both ends of the food chain from farmers raising the food and all of us purchasing out of the grocery stores.

[@cs8892]

Tyson has been crooked for years

[@morrobayfishing5515]

Yes, That's why they gave so much money to the Clintons and Obama.

[@WilliamCooper-l6f]

One reason why food is so expensive or having shortages, is because the brokers are purposely restricting the amount of food being made available to the processors and stores. It's not about drought, heat waves, or diseases, because the global food industry is way too vast to be drastically affected. They've increased American food sales to foreign markets by 18% just from last year alone. A total of 177 billion dollars worth of our food was sold to overseas buyers, which means we are subsiding their good purchasing deal with high inflation. 1.3 million tons of beef, 94 million tons of corn, 4.9 million tons of citrus fruit are just a few products that were sold to foreign buyers last year alone and a lot of it went to China, not our dear friends in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere. We are being lied to and manipulated to spend more for what is actually abundant and readily available. Understand one thing; we are being bankrupted. Why? Because we are being betrayed. This is a global phenomenon, not a national one. The entire world is being taken down, step by step, so it appears to be natural and not man-made.

[@tombolt13thexehanort29]

Then just buy local meat and actually do something about it. Buy chickens and make your own eggs, or buy local (heck if someone in your neighborhood has chickens offer to buy their eggs). Go to local grocery stores instead of the big mega stores.

[@Mysweetpuppiestobiandchimo]

Also the thick wet pad under the meat...in every package of beef, pork and chicken...stealing money from customers....with the excuse of the meat bleeding....no blood...probably saline water....🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@bjarkiengelsson]

It's definitely saline water. It doesn't smell like blood for sure. And notice when you cook, say, a steak, it shrinks and ends up in it's own puddle? It's not all fat. Not at all. Not anymore.

[@DeenanTheKemon1]

These are decisions being made by people who could buy the city you live in, no matter where it is. People really need that part to sink in. Reverse RobinHood rules the World..

[@yerbudspud]

It's protein not blood even though it's red, padding weight and fillers is trashy though.

[@Bluevomitcomet]

Idk about that one chief. I’ve processed red meat and we throw those lil pillows under steaks and they weigh nothing. If the red meat is left out for a while, say like a day or two, the pillow is usually halfway filled up with the residue but it only weighs slightly more. I’d argue that some of the chicken could be filled with saline though, because those pre packaged packs from Perdue are filled with the liquid.

[@chrisregister8021]

This is exactly what I suspected for the last few years. And it's not just meat companies, It's almost every industry there is.

[@brandyfritz1587]

I eat once a day so my kid can eat 3 times a day. Anyone else out there feeling the squeeze of all the price fixing? It's not just the food industry. It's also home rentals, medicines and much more. Wouldn't it be lovely if we demanded integrity?