'Silent Coup'—How corporations rule the world w/Matt Kennard | The Chris Hedges Report
The Real News Network・2 minutes read
Corporations have seized power in the US through a slow coup, using tactics like weakening labor laws and funding private militias to suppress movements. The infiltration of corporations into politics globally has led to consequences like privatization of essential services and a lack of accountability, perpetuating extreme wealth disparities and eroding democracy.
Insights
- Corporations have systematically undermined democracy both domestically and internationally by leveraging legal systems, weakening labor laws, and utilizing private militias to suppress dissent, ultimately consolidating power and eroding the rights of workers and local communities.
- The intertwined relationships between corporations, nonprofits, and media outlets have created a pervasive system of influence that stifles dissent, with examples like SABMiller's funding of The Guardian illustrating how corporate interests can manipulate public perception, highlighting the need for increased transparency and accountability in corporate-government interactions.
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Recent questions
How have corporations impacted democracy?
Corporations have orchestrated a slow corporate coup d'etat, leading to inverted totalitarianism. They have taken over power internally while upholding the facade of democracy, eroding labor laws, weakening workers' rights, and funding private mercenary militias to suppress labor movements. This subversion of democracy abroad mirrors the erosion of democracy at home, with governments granting environmental permits out of fear of being sued by corporations, impacting local communities negatively. Free trade agreements contain legal mechanisms allowing corporations to operate without hindrance, and investor-state dispute settlement systems enable multinational corporations to sue states, posing significant challenges to democracy.
What is the role of nonprofit organizations in corporate influence?
Nonprofit organizations have aligned with corporations for profit over justice, contributing to the promotion of corporate interests globally. This partnership corrupts the altruistic image of NGOs like Oxfam, leading to a lack of pushback against corporate control. The report exculpated SABMiller of wrongdoing in Nejapa, with the Oxfam America logo, showcasing how corporations influence media narratives. Activists worldwide face dangers and challenges fighting against corporate rule, with instances of successful activism demonstrating the potential for positive change against corporate power.
How do corporations impact global policies?
Corporations have infiltrated the political system globally, influencing government policies to serve their interests. They have used an international legal system to exploit resources in developing countries, leading to a lack of pushback against their control. The World Bank, funded by public money, has invested in private corporations, enforcing corporate rule under the guise of development and aid. This corporate influence has led to the privatization of essential services like healthcare, mirroring the American healthcare system and impacting global policies.
What are the consequences of the corporate coup d'etat?
The consequences of the corporate coup d'etat include extreme wealth disparity, erosion of democracy, and the rise of private security forces. Corporations have subverted democracy both domestically and abroad, weakening labor laws, eroding workers' rights, and funding private militias to suppress dissent. The secretive nature of investor-state dispute settlement systems poses challenges to accountability and transparency, allowing corporations to sue states and impact policies. The corporate influence on global policies has led to the privatization of essential services and a lack of pushback against their control.
How do corporations use legal mechanisms to their advantage?
Corporations use legal mechanisms like investor-state dispute settlement systems to their advantage, enabling them to operate without hindrance globally. These systems allow multinational corporations to sue states, creating a policy chill effect that deters governments from implementing regulations that may infringe on corporate profits. The secretive nature of these mechanisms, with cases not held in open court, makes the system difficult to access and understand, posing challenges to accountability and transparency. Examples of significant financial impacts from these cases showcase the potential harm of these legal mechanisms on governments and local communities.
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