Comments Rian Arek has made

Big Business or Democracy?

once again Big Business gets the message and acts first in it's own, and our collective, interest. If one lesson can learned from the history of government regulation, it's that it accomplishes the task in the most onerous, expensive, and least efficient manner

It is difficult to imagine democracy without the reality of government regulations. Don't the people have the right to mandate legislation that reflects their values? Yes, they can vote with their dollars, but fortunately the real world has more depth than the market alone. We also have explicit law and public discourse about that law. And despite the forces that would misuse the trust we grant them we must seek to protect those things we value most deeply.

Nor should we forget that all political corruption goes hand in hand with big business corruption. Where, after all, is the wealth coming from that corrupts politicians? Can't we view political rhetoric and corruption almost as extensions of market rhetoric and corruption? And if we are going to talk about the inefficiency of government regulations we also have to consider all the many years that wealth and corporate interests have skewed public opinion and driven narrowly self-interested agendas. Is a war or two over oil a display of efficiency?

I for one am thankful for the political arena when it places pressure on the market - and I am thankful that democracy at least aspires to give popular sovereignty the power to apply this pressure.On Business is already acting on the climate threat -- and waiting for Washington to catch up posted 2 years, 10 months ago 6 Responses