We tend to see societies like Canada and the US as liberal and democratic and responsive to the general public. But is that how they really operate? Are political parties really open and responsive to the public at large or are they corporate entities doing what they have to in order to promote themselves in seeking and maintaining power? Do they really hold the interests of the public as primary or do they largely behave in their self-interest? When they show themselves to the public, are they showing their true and honest selves, or are they behaving like soap adds on TV? Hey, look, there's Harper playing piano and singing a Beatles' song at the NAC. Gee, he's a nice open guy after all, not someone who's closeted away from scrutiny at the PMO. IMHO, it's no better than selling soap.
And one also has to think about the complex linkages that exist between the political and corporate sectors. Lobbying, getting the political sector to do what the corporate sector wants, has become a major industry -- invisible to the public but enormously powerful. Consider health care reform in the US, beneficial to the general public but potentially very harmful to the health insurance industry. So send in the lobbyists to make sure it doesn't emerge as something that threatens corporate power and profitability and doesn't do much for the public either. Who really governs us? And what really is ethical behaviour when it comes to government and the corporate sector? Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Gurstein" <[email protected]> To: "'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION,EDUCATION'" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 11:30 PM Subject: Re: [Futurework] Well, it's a nice thought... > Again I agree in theory but the problem is that the State structure is so > weakened in all Developed countries after 20 years or so of a very > effective > and very clever series of neo-liberal assaults that it's very hard to see > any government actually doing what you are suggesting... We'll see what > happens with Medicare in the US as a good test case but I'm not that > optimistic... > > Anyway, we expect people as citizens and bureaucrats in governments to act > ethically, why not those working in corporations... > > M > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Arthur Cordell > Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 8:18 PM > To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION,EDUCATION' > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Well, it's a nice thought... > > > The problem though is that when corporations assume the mantle of social > responsibility then they are really becoming untouchable. The take on > functions best left to govts. They sponsor one sort of fund raising > activity or another thereby relieving govts from doing their job. > > If we hold corps to the bare bones function as espoused by Milton F., then > govt will have to step in. > > I don't like the idea of going to corps to get certain favours or > sponsorships or partnering. The corp can pick and choose those activities > that are suitable and what makes it even more irritating is that the corp > can then claim the activity as a tax deduction. > > arthur > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael > Gurstein > Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:13 PM > To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION' > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Well, it's a nice thought... > > The problem with that world, Arthur as you well know is that corporations > don't just do business they do politics, influence, create and manage > social > environments/realities and so on. So governments seem now mostly to be > playing catch up with corporations and citizens are even further behind > since their real opportunity to influence policy is receding at an > accelerating pace... So any leverage the rest of us can get even through > something as flawed as this is probably worthwhile. > > M > > o.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
