Corporate Control of American Democracy

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According to the Top 200, an Institute for Policy Studies, of the 100 largest economies in the world, 51 are corporations; only 49 are countries. General Motors is bigger than Denmark and over three times the size of New Zealand; the top 200 corporations’ combined sales are bigger than the combined economies of all countries except the largest ten. “It is size with the protection afforded by company law and governments that gives corporations power to make the rules and encourages their arrogance” (Madeley). Globalization presently is dominated by corporations that have too much freedom without any repercussions to their actions. Corporations are able to increase their wealth as well as political and economic power through freedoms above that of individuals. Governments around the world are to blame for letting these corporations "exploit" the system and financial deregulation has only furthered this problem.

Governments have presented cutbacks in health, education and other vital social services around the world as a result to structural adjustment policies prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (an organization that supposedly works to foster global growth and economic stability) and the World Bank as conditions for loans and repayment (Stiglitz). In other words the government depletes the money used in communities to in essence “bail” out and support large corporations in trouble. It is becoming a major concern of why businesses are receiving more support from the government than individuals do. In addition, it is vital for emerging nations to open their economies to compete with each other and with more powerful and established industrialized nations. These developing nations are constantly competing to see ...

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...eignty; in addition, to having no repercussions with regards to their actions. Corporations will carry on dominating as well as soar in size. Large businesses will maintain relations with government officials causing our economy and societies to be exhausted of its wealth. This is why abolishing particular laws following corporate personhood are vital to ending corporate rule and building a better democratic society. Starting local is key. Addressing governments and asserting the problems with corporate rights is how success can be reached. We must make government and the courts familiar with the ideas and help them reach a better understanding of why the removal of these rights is in the best interest of the people. “Ending corporate personhood would result, not in a level playing field, but in a field where We the People have the advantage again” (Meyers).

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