How do you feel about corporate america? Do you think your business has fair work practices?

As it stands now, giant corporations have a stranglehold on power. They “buy” government officials with campaign contributions, lobbying, and media coverage (8 corporations own 90% of the mass media in the US and 80% in the world. Investigative reporting is disappearing and reporters rely on official sources), and high paying jobs in the private sector for former regulators.

In return they get jobs and influencial positions in regulatory and policy agencies, foreign policy that uses military to protect business interests overseas, tax cuts, deregulation on trade policies, selling arms to developing countries, environmental and worker abuse, and anti-trust.

We think that we live in a system of free enterprise where competition drives down prices, drives up quality and choice, and provides jobs. In reality, corporations have become so big, powerful, and vertically integrated (single company owning raw materials, manufacturing, AND distribution), that it is virtually impossible for competitors to enter the market and survive. We think we have choice and quality, but if you want to buy goods that are good for society the choices get fewer and more expensive. Try to find a T-shirt that wasn’t made by slave labor for less than $ 20.

So how does this perpetuate the gap between rich and poor? Well, one thing that does have to compete is the work force. Everyone has to compete with cheap labor in developing countries, and that does drive down wages. And these develpoing countries stay poor and desperate becuase of trade policies via WTO, IMF and World Bank. They loan them money knowing they wont be able to pay it back and require the countries to privatize public services and drop their protective trade barriers so that the international conglomerates can exploit the cheap workforce and natural resources of the country.

The big corporations see the government as there to protect their right to unlimited profits and everyone else’s expense. They rely on mass consumption, and 99% of people working spend most of their income consuming goods. Whether you earn $ 40K or $ 100K, you do not have any political power to change this system. You only get to vote on candidates preselected by giant corporate sponsorship and media coverage. You only hear news that doesn’t threaten the corporate media’s ability to maximize profits. We need to take back our democracy from the corporations.

We have to put limits on corporate power: reform, regulate, and rewrite the corporate charter.

Start by hosting a house party to show and discuss the documentary “The Corporation”. Also, learn more by watching “Manufacturing Consent” and “Orwell Rolls in His Grave”.