Forums > Social Discussion > Corporation
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HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
So I saw this film, CORPORATION, the other night.
It was interesting. Sure showed how corporations contribute to pollution, the stratification of society, oppression, etc.
But it was boring. All it did was gripe on and on and on about "aw geez! Corporations sure are bad! Oh boy, they're really awful! Yeah, they're evil! We've gotta do something! Wow, they're really bad!" For two and a half hours. I was almost asleep at the end.
It's like ADBUSTERS magazine. The points are perfectly valid, but pointless.
The movie spent all of 3 minutes on alternatives to corporations. No talk of cooperatives, no talk of what real people can do as individuals to fight back. Nothing.
My revolution is a cooperative revolution. A cooperative is like a corportation, except every employee owns one and only one share. No party may own more than a single share. That prevents special interests from buying up half the cooperative and making it do evil things. It keeps CEO's from pocketing millions while laying off a significant percentage of the workforce. Sure, different positions within the cooperative have different salaries, but the profit is shared equally among shareholders, which cuts way down on socioeconomic stratification.
What's your alternative? What's your way of stopping them?
So I saw this film, CORPORATION, the other night.
It was interesting. Sure showed how corporations contribute to pollution, the stratification of society, oppression, etc.
But it was boring. All it did was gripe on and on and on about "aw geez! Corporations sure are bad! Oh boy, they're really awful! Yeah, they're evil! We've gotta do something! Wow, they're really bad!" For two and a half hours. I was almost asleep at the end.
It's like ADBUSTERS magazine. The points are perfectly valid, but pointless.
The movie spent all of 3 minutes on alternatives to corporations. No talk of cooperatives, no talk of what real people can do as individuals to fight back. Nothing.
My revolution is a cooperative revolution. A cooperative is like a corportation, except every employee owns one and only one share. No party may own more than a single share. That prevents special interests from buying up half the cooperative and making it do evil things. It keeps CEO's from pocketing millions while laying off a significant percentage of the workforce. Sure, different positions within the cooperative have different salaries, but the profit is shared equally among shareholders, which cuts way down on socioeconomic stratification.
What's your alternative? What's your way of stopping them?
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posted:
Ethical Consumerism. Buy things that you know are from good companies/coops whenever you can. Support local produce and ethical small time producers.
I know what you mean about that kind of movie - There's no point in telling people what's wrong without telling them how to make it right.
Josh
Ethical Consumerism. Buy things that you know are from good companies/coops whenever you can. Support local produce and ethical small time producers.
I know what you mean about that kind of movie - There's no point in telling people what's wrong without telling them how to make it right.
Josh
--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
SILVER Member
slack rating - 9.5
2,216 posts
Location: Suburbiton, Yoo-Kay, United Kingdom
slack rating - 9.5
2,216 posts
Location: Suburbiton, Yoo-Kay, United Kingdom
Posted:
i've only ever bought one copy of adbusters for similar reasons!
Written by: It's...Lightning!
It's like ADBUSTERS magazine. The points are perfectly valid, but pointless.
i've only ever bought one copy of adbusters for similar reasons!
It is our fantasies that make us real. Without our fantasies we're just a blank monkey' - Terry Pratchett
activist for HoPper liberation.
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
Posted:
I'm totally with Josh on this one, speak with your money and opt for the most ethical companies, fair trade goods, local produce - farmers markets and cooperatives. It's not always possible, but it's getting better. Alternatively, get your own - my dad's acquired an allotment and is now churning out more beans than we know what to do with, however they tast great and you know exactly where they came from!
As for adbusters, I only saw this magazine for the first time last week and didn't exactly read it much... but i can see where you're coming from, it sort of seems like ethical propaganda... if it's targeted at an already liberal kind of audience, then exactly what do readers get out of it? It should be the people who don't already have that viewpoint, that such films and magazines etc, should be targetting, they should aim to get people to question what they previously believed.... whether or not it actually attracts those readers and whether it works............? But I totally agree that perhaps these things should also be a little more proactive rather than just convincing, only a hardcore few are likely to get up and do something, everyone else will wait until it's handed to them on a plate.
I'm totally with Josh on this one, speak with your money and opt for the most ethical companies, fair trade goods, local produce - farmers markets and cooperatives. It's not always possible, but it's getting better. Alternatively, get your own - my dad's acquired an allotment and is now churning out more beans than we know what to do with, however they tast great and you know exactly where they came from!
As for adbusters, I only saw this magazine for the first time last week and didn't exactly read it much... but i can see where you're coming from, it sort of seems like ethical propaganda... if it's targeted at an already liberal kind of audience, then exactly what do readers get out of it? It should be the people who don't already have that viewpoint, that such films and magazines etc, should be targetting, they should aim to get people to question what they previously believed.... whether or not it actually attracts those readers and whether it works............? But I totally agree that perhaps these things should also be a little more proactive rather than just convincing, only a hardcore few are likely to get up and do something, everyone else will wait until it's handed to them on a plate.
Aurinko freedom agreement reached 10th Sept 2006
if it makes no sense that's because it's NOn-sense.
BRONZE Member
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posted:
Can you offer any specifics, for the Australian market for example? Obviously organic growers markets, but what about stuff that I buy at Coles or whatever...
Actually, speaking of Coles, I heard recently that they are doing away with all but the three top selling brands in any one section within the stores. This means that all the Australian made/owned and environmentally conscious products will no longer be sold there! Only the products who spend the most on advertising and on the maintenance of brand loyalty will prevail.
hooray for consumerism!
Written by: Josh
Ethical Consumerism. Buy things that you know are from good companies/coops whenever you can. Support local produce and ethical small time producers.
I know what you mean about that kind of movie - There's no point in telling people what's wrong without telling them how to make it right.
Josh
Can you offer any specifics, for the Australian market for example? Obviously organic growers markets, but what about stuff that I buy at Coles or whatever...
Actually, speaking of Coles, I heard recently that they are doing away with all but the three top selling brands in any one section within the stores. This means that all the Australian made/owned and environmentally conscious products will no longer be sold there! Only the products who spend the most on advertising and on the maintenance of brand loyalty will prevail.
hooray for consumerism!
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GOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
Beware the multi-nationals and globalisation.
Hi lightning, I like the idea of profit sharing where employees have shares in the company, this has worked in Australia, and a good current example is SPC. Though, I hadn’t thought of restricting everyone to a single share.
falsh fire, I think Coles do carry some organic produce, and I would guess they will carry more in the future if there was consumer demand. I saw Dick Smith on ACA?? talking about the large supermarket chains only selling the three top selling brands. Apparently, this is in response to the Aldi chain setting up in Australia, even though Aldi only have a few percent of the market at present. And, I’d have to agree that this could spell the demise of many Australian made and environmentally conscious products.
In Victoria, the Independent Grocers Association, has grown stronger against Coles/Woolworth’s in the last 5 or 6 years because they are supplying consumers with what they want. Perhaps they will pick up on the ethical consumerism and increase market share with consumer support.
Beware the multi-nationals and globalisation.
Hi lightning, I like the idea of profit sharing where employees have shares in the company, this has worked in Australia, and a good current example is SPC. Though, I hadn’t thought of restricting everyone to a single share.
falsh fire, I think Coles do carry some organic produce, and I would guess they will carry more in the future if there was consumer demand. I saw Dick Smith on ACA?? talking about the large supermarket chains only selling the three top selling brands. Apparently, this is in response to the Aldi chain setting up in Australia, even though Aldi only have a few percent of the market at present. And, I’d have to agree that this could spell the demise of many Australian made and environmentally conscious products.
In Victoria, the Independent Grocers Association, has grown stronger against Coles/Woolworth’s in the last 5 or 6 years because they are supplying consumers with what they want. Perhaps they will pick up on the ethical consumerism and increase market share with consumer support.
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
BRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posted:
Its tricky flash, and generally a bit more pricy, but you get higher quality and far better karma for spending a few percent more of your wage on it.
As you know, we live on an organic hobby farm and so are really lucky this way. however we also buy from the Adelaide Central Market, which is not only cheaper, but you can easily find stuff thats locally grown.
Find wholefoods shops, they generally stock stuff which is ethical. ask em.
Im mostly vego, that helps.
It takes a bit more time, and a bit more money, but most of us in the developed world can afford it, and in reality, its better for you physically, mentally and spiritually. Its better for society and its better for the environment generally.
Josh
Its tricky flash, and generally a bit more pricy, but you get higher quality and far better karma for spending a few percent more of your wage on it.
As you know, we live on an organic hobby farm and so are really lucky this way. however we also buy from the Adelaide Central Market, which is not only cheaper, but you can easily find stuff thats locally grown.
Find wholefoods shops, they generally stock stuff which is ethical. ask em.
Im mostly vego, that helps.
It takes a bit more time, and a bit more money, but most of us in the developed world can afford it, and in reality, its better for you physically, mentally and spiritually. Its better for society and its better for the environment generally.
Josh
--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
activist for HoPper liberation.
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
Posted:
There are loads of places on the internet where you can find information about different companies ethics, the brands they own and good they produce. For starters try:
www.ethicalconsumer.org - a UK website but it looks at loads of different brands and type of product and weighs them up ethically. It seems to focus on multinational brands, so presumably covers Australia to some extent. (click research services then buyers guides on the menu)
Also Oxfam's website www.maketradefair.com is worth a look at for the various companies and their fair trade policies. Also has loads of information about fair trading for products you can't buy locally.
Don't know whether there are similar schemes in Australia, but I know that in the UK there are a number of organic box schemes, where you get delivered a weekly box of fresh locally grown produce, which seems like a marvellous idea to me
Back to branding & multinationals though, do some internet searching there's so many lists out there of the big companies, all their offshoots, and their ethics.... Ethical consuming means finding a balance that works for you. e.g. not all organic produce in supermarkets is locally grown, so should you support organic at the expense of air miles or local that might use pesticides??
There are loads of places on the internet where you can find information about different companies ethics, the brands they own and good they produce. For starters try:
www.ethicalconsumer.org - a UK website but it looks at loads of different brands and type of product and weighs them up ethically. It seems to focus on multinational brands, so presumably covers Australia to some extent. (click research services then buyers guides on the menu)
Also Oxfam's website www.maketradefair.com is worth a look at for the various companies and their fair trade policies. Also has loads of information about fair trading for products you can't buy locally.
Don't know whether there are similar schemes in Australia, but I know that in the UK there are a number of organic box schemes, where you get delivered a weekly box of fresh locally grown produce, which seems like a marvellous idea to me
Back to branding & multinationals though, do some internet searching there's so many lists out there of the big companies, all their offshoots, and their ethics.... Ethical consuming means finding a balance that works for you. e.g. not all organic produce in supermarkets is locally grown, so should you support organic at the expense of air miles or local that might use pesticides??
Aurinko freedom agreement reached 10th Sept 2006
if it makes no sense that's because it's NOn-sense.
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