I have been rethinking my views on methods of government and the evils of capitalism in the wake of reading that massive 470-page tome on the history of the Coca-Cola Company.
I'd like to quote:
And therein lies the true beauty of capitalism. The Coca-Cola religion has no real morality, no commandment other than the increased consumption of its drink. Consequently, it has been perfectly willing to co-exist with Hitler, bejeweled Maharajas, impoverished migrant workers, malnourished Africans, Guatemalan death squads, clear-cut Belizean rainforests, or repressive Chinese. Unlike most world governments, however, the Coca-Cola Company eventually acts out of enlightened self-interest. Because it values its squeaky-clean image above all else, it reacts far more quickly to bad publicity than any potentate. Consequently, it is arguably up to us, the public, to monitor its corporate behaviour. Faced with boycotts of sufficient size, documentaries of appropriate proportion, or shareholder resolutions representing large chunks of stock, the Company will act. Sometimes, it will even act pre-emptively to avoid such trouble. For its own selfish ends, then, Coca-Cola does indeed try to promote the peace and harmony it promises in its commercials.
I can see a valid point or two in there. The PM doesn't care that half the country thinks David Benson-Pope is a liar - she's not trying to sell us anything now that she's elected. There are no competing products for another 4 years. Same thing in the USA - George Junior doesn't care that only a minority of the country voted for him. In fact, it makes it easier. He only has to keep that small group of consumers happy, and the best way to do that is to give federal contracts to his buddies. Wheras Coke, more than most companies, counts almost every single human on earth as a potential long-term customer. So they have to listen to them. Every single day.
Reading: - The Light Fantastic - Terry Prachett
Just Read: - For God, Country & Coca-Cola - Mark Pendergrast
ohh that's a goodie innit. the more i learn about capitalism/globalisation the greyer it seems to become. just like the more i learn about GE the greyer it seems to become.
on The Corporation there's a quote by someone who says that the best way to ensure the planet gets looked after is to privatise every cubic metre of it. i did some work with some anarchist groups here in wellington and one of the issues which came up was ownership (unsurprising an anarchism rests on an invalidation of the idea of property) - specifically, ownership of an idea, as in, being the person who is going to do the core organising and push for it to happen. mwah (waves hands about)
Posted by: frey at March 6, 2006 08:26 AM