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... when you have a strong government to define what the public good is, set the rules that corporations must comply with in that respect, and enforce said rules.
It breaks down when the very notion of government has been slandered by non stop propaganda (funded by owners of big corporations), that the concept of public good has been emptied of any meaning via the idolatry of greed, laws are written by corporate lobbyists and fed to legislators wholesale, and enforcement arms of the govenrment are weakened and defunded.
Which brings us pretty much to the issue of money in politics, because for as long as politicians need money more than anything else to be elected, they will be beholden to corporations and will not work to further the public good, but to make sure that the government is as little a hindrance to the pursuit of corporate profit as is possible.
European Tribune / The Oil Drum / EA2020
by Jerome a Paris on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:19:25 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
Jerome, you deserve a standing ovation for this one.
An American Abroad for Barack Obama
by SneakySnu on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:21:05 PM PDT
several actually;
corporate lobbyists successfully reversed an asbestos ban decades ago (through Bush Sr), and still, people are dying as a result of that. (Check Environmental Working Group for in depth update.)
Corporations have also fought regulations that were pro seat belts, air bags, and good mileage, ....as well as attempts to reduce mercury in your family's bloodstream - and, a thousand other attempts to govern in the public interest.
Corporate lobbying and misinformation is the single significant reason that North American society has made no significant unified attempt to mitigate climate change.
Incentive and free enterprise is fine, while de-regulated global capitalism could produce collateral damages that would rival a nuclear war.
The rules for business are being written by business and lobbyists. That is the problem. We need government of, by, and for people, and business within parameters set in accordance with the public interest. We are a long way from that right now.
open-source: Environmental Americanandnetrootsdaily.com
by NetRootsDaily on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:39:44 PM PDT
Only when we get PFE will we have a government that has the capacity to make an equitable playing field for the competing aims of capitalism and society.
And they are competing aims. The social contract in a democracy is collective. The economic priorities of capitalism are not collective. That's a distinction that isn't mutable. And ultimately, the processes of capital have to be a function of the collective. That's why capitalism exists. It is NOT a naturally occurring system---it is constructed.
It's our responsibility as a society to construct the process of capitalism. We can't do that without the people having the upper hand in the function of governance.
by chrississippi on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:30:04 PM PDT
by burrow owl on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:40:29 PM PDT
The reality of a democracy is that we can do anything we like with our money and our society.
If the people actually owned our own government, we'd be damn well able to spend our own money to our own benefit. The argument for owning our own political system outside of corporate influence is almost too dumb an argument to even have to make. The fact we don't have this discussion is Exhibit A of who exactly controls the dialogue.
by chrississippi on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:45:42 PM PDT
on my sig. Well, no matter. Fact of the matter is that people reallllly don't like the idea that they can't support their chosen candidates, and also don't like the idea that their tax dollars will be redirected to a candidate they don't like.
Now's your chance to talk about how corporations have brainwashed the sheeple into thinking this, etc. etc.
by burrow owl on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:59:17 PM PDT
tax money directed.
Yes, nobody likes their money directed anywhere beyond themselves. They don't like it given to roads that they don't use, educated children that aren't theirs, and every other possible governmental function that doesn't benefit them directly.
But so what? The reality is that we do it all the time. And the "fact" is that, except for Paultards and libertarians, we all understand why we have to.
It's complete and utter bullshit to think that public election financing is SO DIFFERENT than all the other things people don't like funding. It's no different than anything government funds.
by chrississippi on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:06:28 PM PDT
Because no one ever tried getting angry before! It could work this time!
/snark
by mamamedusa on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:07:41 PM PDT
(I don't remember the "vous" form-- sorry for the familiarity)
You're right. Lack of enforced regulation is harmful. Unrestrained propaganda is awful. Sabotage of public education is a crime against humanity.
Most Americans don't realize how much they love government regulations. We need more of them, and they need to be enforced.
Corporations per se aren't evil; lack of social constraint against harmful behavior is.
by mamamedusa on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:32:46 PM PDT
John McCain: no health insurance for kids.
by AlanF on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:00:36 PM PDT
by mamamedusa on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:03:29 PM PDT
we're egalitarian, only the fuddy daddies say vous.
Sic Transit Gloria Locavore!
by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:33:49 PM PDT
Never has the danger of corporations been better expressed. And by a French banker no less.
The sad part is, many people in America have no idea they are entitled to a 'public good'. Never heard of it. They just need to get to Wal-Mart. That's an American corporation, ain't it?
Obama '08
by Village expects idiot home soon on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:35:28 PM PDT
is "The Right to Buy Shit Cheaply".
"And tell me how does god choose whose prayers does he refuse?" Tom Waits
by madaprn on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 12:52:32 PM PDT
wide narrow
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