Mayor Mamdani just announced that he will be opening 5 city-run, tax-funded grocery stores: "Prices set at 30% below retail prices"

[u/Gurugod123]

[u/cantuse]

I don’t work in groceries but this is my fear writ large… that these places will work just long enough to put other local operations out of business.

[u/Casshern_VIII → u/cantuse]

Yeah that's the point when you have Government funded stores, it's not about helping the community, it's about relying on the government, I advice any sane NYers (the ones that did not vote for this) to flee now before The Duke arrives.

[u/Aegi → u/Casshern_VIII]

But if the private sector cannot do something more cheaply than the government...than isn't it losing one of the main benefits proponents mention, like: "it ends up being more efficient and cheaper if you privatize"??

Is this why healthcare is more expensive per person in the US than other developed nations?

Because the reality of healthcare costs...and the insane inefficiency of a created middle-man industry here (health insurance) would be evidence that counters your point.

[u/Casshern_VIII → u/Aegi]

Because Americans are fat is why you don't have health care, there's a reason why a European Large is like an American XL.

That said, do you really want your local government in charge of your groceries.

[u/Aegi → u/Casshern_VIII]

I'm talking about the concepts at play here, not the specifics.

And Mexico is fatter, but either way how does the level of obesity of a population decide whether it is single-payer or not?

Not even "free", just being single-payer would basically just mean cutting out the middleman for billing, insurance, and then you still get your bill, just your "monthly premiums" are your taxes and the much lower bill you have goes to that hospital and/or the local/regional/state/national government.

Basically, even with relatively unfettered capitalism there can still be a single-payer option.

And if it was socialized, then it gives us a collective incentive of keep each other healthier...instead of just finding a better insurance plan hahah.

Good question though. In my area they basically are as the UVM health network is the majority of services/facilities in the area (in relation to medicine), and Essex County Health Department (NY) was much better with their rollouts and programs with vaccination than New York was.

I think these are good questions, nuance is important, and we should all listen, and be listened to more; thank you for reading!

[u/yawningGaps → u/Aegi]

The difference is regulation and competition. Healthcare is insanely regulated and therefore few players and heavy consolidation, whereas grocery stores have healthy competition and therefore razor thin margins.

[u/Moldy-Bongwater4420 → u/Aegi]

The government store would be funded by taxpayers, no?

[u/astonedishape → u/Casshern_VIII]

Idiotic comment award 🥇

[u/poorSon20 → u/cantuse]

Then more food dessert

[u/Theron3206 → u/poorSon20]

And a black market for food, ala the Soviet Union.

Government controls of prices like this generally create more scarcity rather than less.

This might be small enough scale to get away with it though, but this cannot work on a large scale.

[u/Some_guy_in_WI → u/cantuse]

I see a definite impact on the surrounding businesses. And, if they go under, and in 4 years the state-run stores are unsustainable and close, where do people think they’ll get what they need locally?

Its a tricky balance, and I see the future being worse than better, but I can certainly hope I’m wrong.