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wilbjammin · 07-30-2004, 01:32 PM

The balance between raising the quality of life for the average U.S. citizens and world citizens and using corporate power to dominate the world politically and economically seems dangerously off-kilter to me. We're lucky in America right now, but with the trends as they are I don't know if there is more good or bad in our future.

My biggest worry is that the downward pressure on wages during times of inflation will eventually generate a need for such low paying jobs that we'll end up creating Free Trade Zones or an American equivalent. And I really don't know what can be done in 3rd world countries that are so crippled by debt that they can't do anything by let the IMF and World Bank restructure their economies to make enough capital to just pay off the interest (if that).

My main concern is creating a system of equity and a reasonable standard of living. I think that corporations should reasonably consider that a good standard of living for its workers creates more movement in the marketplace, generates more capital, and can create a sustainable economy... but the recent trend is to focus on short term gains and cutting costs.

I've heard several opinions on corporations recently. There is the pro-corporate efficient marketplace opinion, the reform the system to attempt to create some more equity but keep things basically the same opinion, and the opinion that the system should be radically reformed. My opinion is that the marketplace is very inefficient, that radically reforming the system is impossible, so that we're stuck with trying to make the best of what we've got.

I do personally enjoy some of the gains created by what corporations have done... computers, hi-tech musical equipment and manufactoring techniques that create flawless intonation and a much richer sound than what a human craftsman could make, access to worldwide media, mobility and communication, electricity, etc... I can't entirely in good faith reject capitalism and corporations because of this. I'll simply say that more should be done to regulate them and force them to use their resources in the public's best interest.

07-30-2004, 01:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
wilbjammin * * *	The balance between raising the quality of life for the average U.S. citizens and world citizens and using corporate power to dominate the world politically and economically seems dangerously off-kilter to me. We're lucky in America right now, but with the trends as they are I don't know if there is more good or bad in our future. My biggest worry is that the downward pressure on wages during times of inflation will eventually generate a need for such low paying jobs that we'll end up creating Free Trade Zones or an American equivalent. And I really don't know what can be done in 3rd world countries that are so crippled by debt that they can't do anything by let the IMF and World Bank restructure their economies to make enough capital to just pay off the interest (if that). My main concern is creating a system of equity and a reasonable standard of living. I think that corporations should reasonably consider that a good standard of living for its workers creates more movement in the marketplace, generates more capital, and can create a sustainable economy... but the recent trend is to focus on short term gains and cutting costs. I've heard several opinions on corporations recently. There is the pro-corporate efficient marketplace opinion, the reform the system to attempt to create some more equity but keep things basically the same opinion, and the opinion that the system should be radically reformed. My opinion is that the marketplace is very inefficient, that radically reforming the system is impossible, so that we're stuck with trying to make the best of what we've got. I do personally enjoy some of the gains created by what corporations have done... computers, hi-tech musical equipment and manufactoring techniques that create flawless intonation and a much richer sound than what a human craftsman could make, access to worldwide media, mobility and communication, electricity, etc... I can't entirely in good faith reject capitalism and corporations because of this. I'll simply say that more should be done to regulate them and force them to use their resources in the public's best interest. __________________ Innominate.