(141-1) February 20 2015. I suspect Apple will be a trillion dollar corporation one of these days. Good for them—they deserve their success. It still won’t make Apple into a person. It shouldn’t have to be one. A corporation should succeed or fail within the context of its own environment.

AWESOME IS A MUCH OVER-USED WORD

SOMETIMES IT IS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE

I neither like nor trust the Stock Market in its present form—and regard it as a good idea gone badly adrift. But, that is a topic for another day.

It really is encouraging to see Apple—which really does deliver decent products—doing so well. In contrast, it is mildly depressing to see Walmart, Bank of America, and McDonald’s—all corporations with murky track records and unpleasant cultures, being given the time of day.

As for Google, they are not perfect—but they are pretty damn good.

The issue of corporate personhood is one that cries out to be addressed. The legal rationale for determining that a corporate entity is legally a person was never adequately  established in the first place—when the Supreme Court made their judgment on the matter—and, since then, corporate power has increased beyond recognition to the great detriment of the wellbeing of the typical employee in the U.S. over recent decades.

AS UNION MENBERSHIP DECLINES THE SHARE OF INCOME GOING TO THE TOP 10% INCREASES. SCARCELY A SURPRISE I THINK.

A consequence has been income inequality on a scale that has become downright unhealthy. Simply put, corporations now have virtually all the power and unions, in the private sector, have been near eliminated. As a consequence, we’ve got either stagnant or declining pay for most, inadequate demand, and an economy performing way below it’s potential. There are numerous other significant side effects including the rather disturbing fact that our political system has been hijacked by major corporations. The typical voter’s interests are no longer being listened to—let alone looked after.

This finding is not just my opinion. As I have stated previously, it is the finding of academic researchers of some stature. It should scarcely be a surprise. Money doesn’t just talk and influence. It buys control.

The disturbing thing is that both parties are now largely funded by the ultra-rich and their corporate interests—which means the issues are not being raised adequately, let alone dealt with.

It also means that no party, and few individuals, are fighting for the interests of typical Americans.

This is all happening in plain sight—but, in the main, we seem to be ignoring it.

A tragedy in the making—or one already made?

Writing, you know, is all about decisions.

 

VOR words c.370.

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