Friday, June 11, 2004
Reagan's funeral
Why is it that 95% of the time I can flip between CNN and Fox News (adjacent channels) and they have the exact same camera shot from the exact same angle? They cut to a close-up at exactly the same time. They're obviously buying the camera feed from some third party. Who, I wonder? I've always wondered why competitors in the same line of business seem to become such exact mirror images of each other. Look at the airlines - they all have exactly the same planes, the same beverage service, same meals (now lack of them), same frequent flyer programs, same safety videos, everything. The two competing supermarkets in my area of Berkeley even have the same items on sale week after week. It's almost as if they're afraid of giving people any reason, no matter how small, to switch companies. So when one does something new, they all have to copy it. Doesn't this go against the spirit of capitalism? If competing businesses are all offering me exactly the same service, choosing between them is meaningless.
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