Buried in this piece about the streaming rights for South Park likely selling for $500 million (!) -- Apple isn't bidding because they don't want to upset China. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
I keep thinking about @austin_walker's comments. These companies promised "Open markets means OPEN MINDS. Soft economic power will erode autocracy and encourage democracy around the world!" But the opposite has happened. (1/2) 
These companies are now stifling criticism of the regime, which, far from being eroded, is using the free market to strengthen itself. Money has proven to be more powerful than our democratic ideals; instead, autocratic ideals seem to be spreading here, via capitalism.
Obviously, I'm no expert on foreign or economic policy; but the decade of claims we were fed about capitalism fostering democracy now seem false on their face.
(Source of @austin_walker quote here: Discussion of China and Blizzard starts at 1h04m) vice.com/en_us/article/…
(Source of @austin_walker quote here: Discussion of China and Blizzard starts at 1h04m) vice.com/en_us/article/…
