Economic Justice (go directly to links)

There are many ways to organize society.  Yet, our politicians, schools and media inform us mainly about one:  the U.S. emphasis on supporting large corporate structures.   Often, if we hear about other economic societies, they are either fableized ("it could never happen here") or demonized ("it would be horrible if it happened here").

Politicians fail to entertain economic alternatives (like universal healthcare), and indeed, promote policies that help large corporations and their leaders maintain their wealth.   Enron is an obvious example of U.S. blind support for large corporations.   With Enron, corporate leaders "coincidentally" sold their stock prior to financial implosion while their workers lost their jobs and pensions.   Further, Chapter XI of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows corporations to sue municipalities, states and national governments if these bodies create laws that deter corporations from making money.  So, for example, the state of California agreed to phase out the chemical MBTE (used in gasoline) when researchers at University of California Davis discovered MBTE causes cancer.  The Canadian Company that produces MBTE (Methanex) decided to sue the U.S. for 970 million dollars under Chapter XI.   Political leaders are now trying to include Chapter XI in the Global Compact, a global trade agreement presently being drafted.

Schools consciously and unwittingly promote large corporations within their hallways.  Many universities and high-schools, for example, have made deals with such multi-national corporations as CoCa-Cola, M&Ms or Pespi to only distribute their products within their institutions.   Ironically, the products these companies make are in direct contrast to the health curriculum taught within the schools.   Furthermore, many large corporations provide "free coupons" to younger students if they read a certain number of books.  Of course, the coupons are usually redeemed when the entire family purchases goods so the child can enjoy the "free coupon."    Unwittingly, schools promote the cause of large corporations by integrating brand names into math and/or reading assignments. 

The Media's influence is undeniable.  We are bombarded daily by thousands of advertisements that try to convince consumers how their lives will improve by purchasing some brand name product or another.  It goes without saying that if companies didn't think advertisements were effective vehicles for increasing consumerism, they wouldn't spend so much of their money on advertising.  Indeed, some corporations spend more money on advertising than they do paying the workers who made the products.  Of course, the media is more than simply advertising.  Large corporations also receive a boost in popular culture, including news broadcasting.  The news consistently presents information from the perspective of large corporations.  Very rarely do we hear about the lives of people who are harmed by the actions corporations take.   For instance, how many people know about the 3,000 citizens killed in Bhopal, India when the Union Carbide plant had a gas leak?   Rather, we often hear about what companies are doing, will be doing or have done in the past.   Further, very rarely do we have knowledge about how public policy is affected by large corporations.  The news glosses over U.S. government intervention to aid large corporations in foreign countries.

There is not doubt that wherever you live, you are being socialized to see reality from the perspective of those in power.   This spinning of reality is not unique to the United States.   Part of being human is trying to find others to share the same reality you share.    However, what is unique to the United States is our brand of economic determinism.   Our leaders are adamant that only one way of organizing society is possible:  providing laws, policies and judicial outcomes that support large corporations and their leaders.

Broaden your economic imagination:  Learn more about alternative visions of the world's economy: Links