I agree that China is different in this regard. The gov’t has superiority over the private sector. That has pros and cons.

Western corps have money in mind when they collect data, whether legally or illegally, and use it to increase sales or fuck over competitors. They don’t work together in a coordinated way to help a particular government work an agenda.

I just can’t agree with that based on my observations. Private firms working with the government on profit-driven agendas has been happening for a long time. The gov’t very often hires private firm insiders at decisionmaking positions. And then when the gov’t has a non-profit agenda, private corporations still cooperate because it means better chance to cooperate on a for-profit agenda in the future. This is the economic basis of fascism. All of that is occurring south of the border as we speak.

I understand what you’re saying even if I don’t agree and I don’t expect you to agree with what I’m saying on this one.

E: I find it’s a lot more useful to think that private firms drive gov’t agendas in our systems, not the other way around.