in the mid '90's many large multinational corporations came under fire as their suspect operations in underdeveloped countries around the world came under fire. repeated 'exposes' told harrowing stories of individuals and we in western civilization, though we share virtually nothing with these people, expressed shock at the working conditions.
over the more recent years, international workers rights abuses have continued. whether conditions have improved or detiororated is open to debate. but here in the west it has become a neccisity for corporations to stress their altruistic values and attributes. they issue memorandums of understanding expressing their own disgust with slave labor, a bit of an obvious statement if there ever was one, and some even require employees to do community work on a 'volunteer' basis. they present themselves as our friends and neighbours, a member of our community and society who's goal it is to help us all out.
at the same time they quite likely employ you or have some effect on your employment. they are more than willing to cut you should the need arise, they pay little to no tax(if there is a spot in the world where corporate taxes are in the same ballpark as personal taxes i have never heard of it) and exert great control over our governments and societies, in some cases even the largest will lie about their performance so as to fend off fears.
given this, should corporations be a pillar of our society? is this good for our future? should we be fighting back? are we simply on a long, slippery slope to a very different society, one where elected governance may not matter so much?
over the more recent years, international workers rights abuses have continued. whether conditions have improved or detiororated is open to debate. but here in the west it has become a neccisity for corporations to stress their altruistic values and attributes. they issue memorandums of understanding expressing their own disgust with slave labor, a bit of an obvious statement if there ever was one, and some even require employees to do community work on a 'volunteer' basis. they present themselves as our friends and neighbours, a member of our community and society who's goal it is to help us all out.
at the same time they quite likely employ you or have some effect on your employment. they are more than willing to cut you should the need arise, they pay little to no tax(if there is a spot in the world where corporate taxes are in the same ballpark as personal taxes i have never heard of it) and exert great control over our governments and societies, in some cases even the largest will lie about their performance so as to fend off fears.
given this, should corporations be a pillar of our society? is this good for our future? should we be fighting back? are we simply on a long, slippery slope to a very different society, one where elected governance may not matter so much?
