Corporatism

Avoiding Corporate Liability

Once upon a time early in the 19th century, corporations came into existence by state legislatures approving charters, which were granted for a limited period of time and for limited purposes. These corporations - producing textiles and other products in New England - raised capital in part because their investors had limited liability. That meant they could not lose any more than their investment if things went wrong.

Posted in consumer watch, Corporatism

‘Clean’ Energy and Poisoned Water

In the musical "Urinetown," a severe drought leaves the dwindling supplies of clean water in the hands of a corporation called Urine Good Company. Urine Good Company makes a fortune selling the precious commodity and running public toilets. It pays off politicians to ward off regulation and inspection. It uses the mechanisms of state control to repress an increasingly desperate and impoverished population.

Posted in Corporatism, epa, water rights

Beware: Big Business is Targeting Moderate Dems with Campaign Dollars and Crying Wolf Arguments

Don't confuse the Republican Party's right-wing lunatic fringe with corporate America. When it comes to key legislation that challenges corporate priorities and moves America in a more progressive direction -- on health care, global warming, labor law reform, tax reform, and banking and housing reform -- the business community knows it can't just ally with the lunatic Limbaugh wing of the GOP. It has to persuade moderate Democrats in Congress to resist supporting a liberal agenda.

Posted in blue dogs, Corporatism, Politics, rightwing

Strike, Yes – But Not at This Target

And so the rage begins. For months we have sat inert as the economic roof collapses in on us. The Greeks and the French rioted, but we - the British - were shocked into silence. Until now. The pervasive insecurity has finally taken physical shape, with thousands of unofficial strikers taking to the streets bearing fury-streaked banners.

Posted in Corporatism, financial crisis, immigrant rights, racism

Bipartisanship=Shifting Right?

Many journalists and pundits have reached one very early verdict about the Obama White House: The new president has not lived up to his campaign rhetoric when it comes to reaching out to Republican lawmakers. The evidence? Not a single Republican voted in favor of the White House-backed economic stimulus bill.

Posted in Corporatism, journalism, Media, rightwing, stimulus

GE Uses Yip Harburg to sell its Oz Mythology

You've heard of pre-emptive strikes. Now welcome to the era of pre-emptive co-optation. That's the kindest word for what millions of viewers heard during the 2009 Superbowl, when GE used the work of the Great Depression's most famous songwriter to sell its myths about prosperity.

Posted in Corporatism, Media, socialism

Chevron in the White House

President-elect Barack Obama introduced his principal national security Cabinet selections to the world Monday and left no doubt that he intends to start his administration on a war footing. Perhaps the least well known among them is retired Marine Gen. James Jones, Obama's pick for national security adviser. The position is crucial -- think of the power that Henry Kissinger wielded in Richard Nixon's White House. A look into who James Jones is sheds a little light on the Obama campaign's promise of "Change We Can Believe In."

Posted in beyond obama, Corporatism, military industrial complex, oil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2008
7:00 AM

CONTACT: Oxfam International

Matthew Grainger, 0044-1865-339128, +44(0)7730680837; matt.grainger@oxfaminternational.org

Business Influence Threatens EU Climate Ambitions, Says Oxfam

WASHINGTON - December 4 - Big business is pressuring the EU to water-down its climate ambitions including, most particularly, around the key issue of auctioning carbon permits, says international agency Oxfam.

Oxfam says that in tomorrow’s Environment Council meeting in Brussels, European decision-makers must resist industry scaremongering if the EU is to lead the way at global talks. If the EU buckles, it will fail to deliver on its own objectives of avoiding global warming above 2°C and send the wrong signals to the UN Climate Conference now underway in Poznan.

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Posted in climate change, Corporatism

Ecuador Keeps Up Oil Cleanup Fight Against Chevron

Reporting from Coca, Ecuador - Abel Garrido has just struck oil and he's not happy about it.

Using a tree branch, the weathered farmer probed the edge of a pond that his cattle use for drinking water and soon turned up the smelly black sludge that he says has killed much of his livestock and sickened his family.

"I've lost 30 cows," Garrido said. "I cut them open and their insides are black."

Paying the medical bills to treat his three children for skin cancer has cost him his meager savings.

Posted in Corporatism, oil, ecuador, Latin America

Big Business Prepares For A Less Friendly Washington

WASHINGTON - After years of playing offense, big business is getting ready for the less familiar role of playing defense following President-elect Barack Obama's victory and legislative gains by other Democrats.

Corporate America enjoyed favorable treatment under the Bush administration for almost eight years and for most of the era of Republican control of Congress from 1995 to 2007.

Now unions may gain a stronger hand, and business is bracing for greater financial regulation, worker-friendly policies and an emphasis on social spending.

Posted in beyond obama, Corporatism