Commentary Survival is the common denominator in all living entities. Self-preservation is the last natural urge and the greatest effort at survival. Corporations have the same survival mechanism, but without the human conscience. Each living person struggles day to day to accumulate capital whether it is for familial survival or saving for future needs. Either way, the survival urge is the same in the modern economy. However, now we have created a pseudo-human that seeks survival of its components without the burden of considering whether its actions are for the good of humanity or not. The corporation has become a mechanism for creating wealth for its members. Consequently, how many of us make decisions without that consideration either? If corporations were considered governmental entities, they would be considered fascist regimes seeking survival of its elite group of rulers. It is no wonder that certain corporations sought a fascist regime in our government during World War II (Bakan, 2004). The transition would be gradual; made possible through media and masked with patriotic rhetoric (2004); sounds all too familiar. The market economy, of which we have grown accustomed, was supposed to serve society by providing the means of exchange for goods and services needed in a society. Price would be dependent on supply and demand. It all sounds neat and tidy. However, with organized collusion comes increased wealth. Wealth and power go hand-in-hand. The power of governments is not in their ability to rule societies; although it is part of it. The power of governments is in wealth. When wealth accumulates for the few, the power to rule over the many that have less wealth is a natural occurrence. The economy today serves the few, not the many. The many have struggled to equalize the power through unions. However, the power of wealth has the ability to change laws that benefit the few, not the many. As a result, unions do not have the power they used to have. To suggest that demonstrations in front of political leaders could outweigh wealth influence is naïve. The problem is that we have let this situation get out of hand and we now must face the reality that change must occur. Yet, the change cannot occur while lobbyists continue to influence our lawmakers with huge political contributions. Nevertheless, it is the system that we have created and must dismantle for the sake of the entire planet. Adam’s invisible hand became an invisible fist in the hands of global conglomerates that wield the wealth of nations. The resultant Corporatocracy creates and maintains laws that best serve the wealthiest people in the world as small communities continue to suffer. Survival is still the name of the game at every level of the economy; yet we continue to engender the same beliefs and attitudes that got us here in the first place. References Bakan, J. (2004). The corporation: The pathological pursuit of profit and power. New York, NY: Free Press.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 00:57:41 +0000
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