More on Capitalism

I know there are individual shareholders who want companies to be more concerned about discrimination and about the environment. And I know there are companies with policies that lean in that direction. But, come on . . . the mandate of corporations is to make a profit for shareholders. And look at the state of the world. Corporations grew out of the colonial period when European countries worked on the principle that if they had the power then they had the right. That principle still prevails, as corporations do as they please in weaker countries and against weaker populations. In fact, through political power, they do pretty much as they please in stronger countries and against stronger populations. It's not a matter of asking, "Please, Corporations, will you be kinder to people," or Please, will you take a little bit better care of the environment." It's a matter of making laws to change the basic way corporations are allowed to work. It's a matter of massively changing the economic structure in the world from capitalistic corporations to (my coined phrase) Trade Institutions between people and nations.

I'm still thinking about all this, so there will be more to come as I clarify and define my thinking. I began to think about all this when I read Marjorie Kelly's book, The Divine Right of Capital: Dethroning the Corporate Aristocracy. I come at the problem from a slightly different angle than Kelly, but our goal is the same: Put power back into the hands of the people.