The Future & Big Business

[ClubMed]

Will massive multi nationals take over government in the future?

Will nations be bought and governed by a board of governors?

Will they take over the education systems, military, space exploration, arts, culture etc..?

Will the employee replace the citizen?.

(Sorry about all the 'Will..'s )

[Knothead]

Will massive multi nationals take over government in the future?
I think that's pretty much already happened, (at least in the USA) via the practice of "lobbying". As time goes by, it will get more overt and obvious.

Will nations be bought and governed by a board of governors?
They won't be 'bought', per se, they'll just be..."absorbed"...via a series of quiet revolutions. Like what's happening here.

Will they take over the education systems, military, space exploration, arts, culture etc..?
Sure...maybe a good thing, too. No more war (non-productive to the "Corporation").
Culture will grind to a halt, however, as artists and writers will be coerced (read: forced) into rigid structures that are non-threatening to the 'Corporate Culture'.
Space Exploration? Sure, as long as there is a percieved $$ benefit. Government is a business, after all.

Will the employee replace the citizen?
(sigh) Yep.

[willy_ph]

Introduction

Despite the long post and the somewhat essay-like nature of my post, I find this topic extremely distressing. Being the focus of my major in Political Science, along with globalization studies, I felt I should share some of my knowledge on this topic. Everyone may not necessarily agree with my views, however, that is the nature of the world.

Responses


Will massive multi nationals take over government in the future?

It's already occuring. In the majority of countries, many politicians come from directly from the bastions of big business and represent the interests of corporate culture. This has been accomplished by dismantling social support institutions, reducing corporate taxes, liberalizing trade regulations, instituting structural adjustment programs upon thier citizenry, and generally ignoring the will of the electorate.

Will nations be bought and governed by a board of governors?

See my first point. Corporations and government are essentially interchangable in North America. The common theme in North American politics is if one can make it in corporate culture, one can easily make the transition to government, despite the serious pay cut.

Will they take over the education systems, military, space exploration, arts, culture etc..?

This exists already. With the advent of structural adjustment programs in developing nations, and the adoption of government policies such as debt reduction, tax cutting, and privatization of government-owned companies (read: structural adjustment program), in developed nations, the expropriation of national, social support systems by private capital interests has begun.

The creation of private education systems is particularly disturbing to me. It has been proven already that research projects sponsored by corporations have had a devastating impact on intellectual freedom. There was recently a case at the University of Toronto, where a medical researcher found that the drug she was testing on children didn't work and was detrimental to their health, yet the agreement between her and the corporation prevented her from publicly releasing her findings.

Will the employee replace the citizen?

If there is no action on the part of the citizen, yes. Many corporations already have anthems of their own, although they are not publicly released. (The Wal-Mart cheer, etc.) Its quite disturbing when some people speak evangelically about their company. (Ie. Steve Ballmer at Microsoft)

Conclusion

In conclusion, I find the extensive collaboration and integration between business and government extremely distressing. It's says something about government and business when the valid concerns of citizens are routinely ignored in favour of business matters. Informed and concerned citizens are the foundation of government. Societies built upon a majority of disconnected, uninterested, unrepresented citizens will ultimately collapse under the pressures of revolutionary forces. Forces which truly reflect the needs and desires of the citizenry.

[Theophylact]

ClubMed, I already suggested Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy for your "Mars Colonization" thread. In fact, it's perfect for this one, too.

[willy_ph]

Hmmm, apparently no one else wants to touch this thread.

[Epidemic]

hey you have defined communism. All working for the common good. Be it omni corp or china.

[ClubMed]

Thanks Theo.

Good post willy_ph, it is both disturbing and shocking that people don't seem to interested or even aware of the fact that big business is slowly but surely taking over our lives.

It is being hailed as globalisation and the bringer of democracy to all the poor oppressed peoples of the world but in truth it is the replacement of one ugly, military dictator by another slick, suit clad and 'educated' one.

The lobby’s in American are quite scary, because it is obvious that the rich and powerful will step on the masses = the voting populace.

[willy_ph]

But the fact of the matter is, it is rarely a true democracy being established in these "developing" nations, "emerging markets" or "client countries."

I think the terminology used by the business community and many supra-territorial institutions reflects the true nature of these new democracies. Being referred to as an "emerging market" is nothing more than a facade for the fact that they will inevitably be exploited by business intrests.

[willy_ph]

CM, i think the lobby in Europe would do the same thing if it weren't for the presence of strong labour unions and socialist-leaning political parties, or maybe it's that it isn't as obvious as a result of the pre-mentioned organizations.

Contrary to what many people have stated in the past, the division between the rich and the poor has accelerated as the result of globalization. It is true that the GDP per captia has traditionally risen in most countries, but this is because of the concentration of wealth in a few individuals in a nation. I have stats to support the claim that there is a growing riff between the rich and the poor, but I'll have to post back with them.

[ClubMed]

Yes willy_ph I agree with you fully, the lobbies in Europe would definatelty do the same, it's just that their effect is so much more effective and visible in the US, it sticks out, where as here in Europe it's more muted.

I would hope that someone with a differing opinion will post too, soon I am going to get tired of agreeing with willy_ph