“This memo betrays the underlying motivations of Kovacevich’s dark money group, Chamber of Progress: in the mold of Amazon, the astroturfing group claims to be left-leaning but in fact is just a front to further entrench corporate power at the expense of everyday people.
Kovacevich, in his memo, says the quiet part out loud: Amazon and other monopolies want us to look past how corporations have rigged the economy to raise prices and keep us in a cost of living crisis––all so they can continue to line their pockets.
What Kovacevich’s post-election memo notably doesn’t cover is this fact: At the ballot box this past week, Americans across the political spectrum sent a clear mandate to our government: address the corporate greed and monopoly power that is making our gas, groceries and rent more expensive than ever before.
In fact, poll after poll shows popular support for reining in Big Tech’s corporate power, and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees have both passed antitrust packages that would tackle Amazon’s dominance in our economy and democracy, with bipartisan support.
There are only two obstacles to reining in big tech’s power: one, the over $100 million dollars that Big Tech and its front groups (like Chamber of Progress) have spent bending the ears of the wealthy and powerful in their favor, and two, the political will of politicians who take Big Tech’s dirty money and have other conflicts of interests.
Attacking corporate greed starts with reining in one of the largest and most powerful corporations in our country: Amazon. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S 2992 / HR 3816), would start to do just that, and give everyone more choice: working people would see a greater variety of products at potentially lower cost, and small businesses would be able to operate more freely, instead of paying high fees to Amazon.
We know there are enough bipartisan votes to get this bill over the finish line. Instead of bowing to lobbyists’ fear mongering, our elected representatives including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must step up and show which side they are on – that of working people, or consultants and lobbyists like Kovacevich who shill for corporations – and bring the Big Tech bills to a floor vote immediately.
We must break up Amazon and other corporate monopolies to start building an economy and democracy that works for us all––not just the wealthy and powerful few at the top.”