In a few places on this earth there's some kind of rational control over predatory corporations -- namely, the northern Euro social democracies.
In Australia, the US, the UK, Canada and more, corporations write the rules with legislators. Here, we all know that no matter WHICH party gets elected, it'll be playing footsie with lobbyists and donors that channel money to secure an advantage. Advantage for whom? Not ordinary people.
I could fill a page with examples -- banksters, pharmaceuticals, airlines, auto manufacturers, telcos, you name it -- where working people are not being represented by elected representatives. Capital has lobbyists with cash. The public interest has few, and none with cash.
Back in 2015 I posted a partial list. Today, scores more can be added. Keeping the lists up to date is tiresome and depressing, so why bother?
Then there's deregulation. In the 80's, the first step was to cut funding to regulatory agencies. Later came legislative action to curtail regulatory power. Politicians like Garneau watch railway workers die as corporate profits climb, and give oversight to the airlines themselves -- while hesitating to ground unsafe aircraft.
It's difficult to be optimistic. |
