Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen

Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen


The Biggest, Least Human Power in America: Amazon

April 30, 2021

The dehumanized Amazon warehouse as pictured in the movie Nomadland is more benign than reality. There is an “existential bleakness” where every instant is being watched, humans serve robots, and one can be fired by algorithm. In his powerful new book: Fulfillment, Winning and Losing in One-Click America, ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis paints a picture of a company which overshadows American government. Amazon demands subsidies and takes over cities where they locate facilities from Seattle to Washington. With knowledge about Amazon, CEO Bezos’ stranglehold on the country can be broken.