Corporatocracy, Inc.

by Debra Efroymson

It’s funny how few people seem perturbed by the fact that international corporations are so powerful that they can tell governments what laws to pass—and which ones not to pass. A particularly ludicrous example is in the United States, where the National Rifle Association—in other words, the gun industry—has been successful in resisting even the most mild forms of gun control. For years I struggled with this issue in terms of tobacco control, where the tobacco industry for decades blocked government efforts to pass reasonable legislation to protect public health. We see it now with resistance by the makers of sugary drinks, and with the three-headed monster (cars, fuel, roads) contributing to our atrocious traffic problems in cities. A recent email from the NGO Public Citizen thus resonated strongly with me. The email asked, “Do we regulate corporations, or do corporations regulate us? Do we tell corporations what pollutants they can and cannot spew into the air, or do corporations get to decide how much poison we breathe? Do we tell corporations what food safety standards they must meet, or do corporations get to decide what level of safety we need? Those are the real questions underlying debates about public protections (or ‘regulations’).” Indeed! Our ability to live a healthy life on this planet and to protect the environment which is the basis for all life, human and otherwise, depends in large part on our ability to rein in the corporations. We need to get better at sharing lessons on reducing corporate power and increasing the power of those working for positive change. That was the focus of my book Beyond Apologies and continues to be my biggest concern. These are not simply abstract issues, but the very essence of the lives we do lead versus the lives we could lead. With so many great possibilities ahead of us, it is time to be more brave, more strong, and more united in resisting the corporations that harm us!