“The core question [] is balance – seeking to ensure that the benefits of democracy and markets exist in ways that ensure society’s greater goals of equity, opportunity, justice and a higher quality of life for all. History shows that when the needle swings too far toward either public or private power, imbalances and disruptions sometimes occur. Americans find themselves in such a moment in the United States, where the political system has granted extraordinary power – greater in some respects than those accorded to average people – to the artificial persons of the corporate world, and money plays a dominant and corrupting role in the political process.”Foreign Policy magazine. In replying to a reader who noted that many companies have more spending power than small countries, Rothkopf replies:
“The core question [] is balance – seeking to ensure that the benefits of democracy and markets exist in ways that ensure society’s greater goals of equity, opportunity, justice and a higher quality of life for all. History shows that when the needle swings too far toward either public or private power, imbalances and disruptions sometimes occur. Americans find themselves in such a moment in the United States, where the political system has granted extraordinary power – greater in some respects than those accorded to average people – to the artificial persons of the corporate world, and money plays a dominant and corrupting role in the political process.”
Ok, not exactly pithy, but it rings true, especially in this post-Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission election year. Don’t forget – while corporations’ power may be increasing, we as consumers have great power as well. (Read the section in this post about the blogger in Sweden for just one example!)
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