Anything changed? | In 2002: Of the 100 largest economies in the world, 51 are corporations

[Fire Walk With Me]

Occupy Wall Street ‏@OccupyWallSt 3h

Anything changed? | In 2002: Of the 100 largest economies in the world, 51 are corporations, only 49 are countries. http://bit.ly/10hjv4B


http://www.globalissues.org/article/234/the-rise-of-corporations

Corporations, as we tend to think of them, have been around for a few centuries, the earliest of which were chartered around the sixteenth century in places like England, Holland etc. Technically speaking, a corporation is what Robbins describes as a “social invention of the state” (Robbins: p.98). That is, a state grants a corporate charter, permitting private financial resources being used for public purposes. As Arrighi points out, this initial creation of private finance and merchants, etc was to aid in the expansion of a state to which it belonged, and as Arrighi and Smith detail, served to expand colonial and imperial interests to start with, as well as help in war efforts between empires.

The advantage of having a corporation over being an individual investing in trade voyages etc, was that an individual’s debts could be inherited by descendants (and hence, one could be jailed for debts of other family members, for example). A corporate charter however, was limited in its risks, to just the amount that was invested. A right not accorded to individuals. (Robbins: p.98)

Corporations had therefore the potential, from the onset, to become very powerful. Even Abraham Lincoln recognized this:

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.

— U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864 (letter to Col. William F. Elkins) Ref: “The Lincoln Encyclopedia”, Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY)

(More at the link. HAS anything changed? For the better?)

[Demeter]

1. Change? Yes. Better? NO

That's our job from now until the balance is redressed.

[JNelson6563]

2. It's us who do this.

The masses support these corporations. Why would anything have changed? Has there been a change in the way people consume? Not in the US as far as I know. People still loading up with all sorts of crap they don't need that is produced and marketed by these corporations.

As long as the masses are fat and happy, nothing will change. Ever.

Julie

[sabrina 1]

4. Most people have no clue what they are buying or what it takes to get these products to them.

If we had a media that produced information, news, facts, our population would be more educated, and at least a % of them would refuse to participate in supporting these Corps once they knew the consequences.

Until we have a real news source on a national level, the population will remain ignorant, and that is how Corporate American wants it.

[JNelson6563]

5. Valid point!

Which is why I love the lists that make the rounds on the internets of who makes what.

We should always make sure those go viral at least.

Julie

[sabrina 1]

6. Yes, I agree re circulating lists and other information as widely as possible. Our media certainly

won't do it, so now it is up to us.

[msongs]

3. all our elected politicians are belong to them, no surprise really nt

[limpyhobbler]

7. I guess wealth is probably more concentrated now than in 2002.

That quote from Lincoln, I was like wow that's a good quote so I searched for it on the google and it seems to be fake, even though it has been widely used and credited to Lincoln. ( http://www.snopes.com/quotes/lincoln.asp ) The main point is probably correct though.