One of the supposed justifications for the intellectual monopoly called copyright is that it drives creativity and culture. In the last few weeks alone we have had multiple demonstrations of why the opposite is true: copyright destroys culture, and not by accident, but wilfully. For example, the MTVNews.com site, along with its sister site CMT.com, …
Any monopoly incentive does, it’s the same in developing countries with monopolized industries - people need them, so they keep paying, people don’t have choice, so they don’t leave, and no competition arises because of cronyism.
Thus, say, utility companies in Armenia are such crap. Actually any companies in Armenia, it’s thoroughly oligopolized to the degree that locals think it’s all fine, because it’s all the same. Living in Armenia is as expensive as living near Moscow, while wages, eh, are definitely not the same. What I don’t understand is the locals’ stubborn belief that they can make things better without changing the society where oligopolies, things working via acquaintances, theft being socially acceptable, bendable rules and no responsibility are usual ; I suspect envy for people explaining why they can’t is a reason too.
Why did I type this …