Joel Bakan

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Quotes and notes:

“There are no limits in the [Paris] accord on continued exploration and drilling or on tar sands exploration (which experts say could alone defeat Paris targets), pipeline construction, or hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). The accord contains no legally binding emission targets, no timeline for emission reductions, no enforcement mechanisms, no concrete regulatory proposals, and no plans to end fossil fuel subsidies.” p44

“The Economist notes ‘a single jarring truth: Demand for oil is rising and te energy industry, in America and globally, is planning multi-trillion-dollar investments to satisfy it.’ Oil and gas companies are boosting producing and creating new fossil fuel megaprojects. By 2025, for example, ExxonMobil expects to have pumped 25 percent more oil and gas than in 2017.” p45

“Nestlé created a direct-sales force of pushcart vendors in poor and remote regions of Brazil. The company says the program helps remedy hunger and malnutrition by making food available to underserved populations. But the bulk of sales from its pushcarts are of high-calorie, low-nutrient products like Kit Kat …” p50

“Corporations are breaking the law ‘on a grander scale than anything we’ve seen,’ says Robert Weissman.” p57

“… 80% of farm subsidies are directed to large-scale farms producing commodity crops for the processed-food industry …” p75

“… 28 liters of water [are needed] to grow beets for the sugar used in half a liter of Coke …” p86

“One undeniable result of big business’s assault on the social state is spiraling inequality, now magnified by the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. As corporations lined up for bailouts—having spent the cash they earned form record profits and tax cuts on stock buybacks to enrich their shareholders—tens of millions of ordinary citizens fell hard through the cracks, losing jobs, using up meager savings, lacking sick leave and in many cases medical insurance, and getting—if they were lucky—a one-time $1,200 check.” p134

“[F]rom 1980 to 2016, the share of national income going to the top 1 percent jumped from 34 percent to 47 percent … Between 1980 and 2016, the ratio of CEO pay to that of the average work in the United States grew ninefold, from 42 to 1 to 361 to 1 (thirty-three major U.S. companies have ratios above 1,000 to 1).” p135

“[C]orporate capitalism … is killing us. It’s killing whole species. Killing the air, water, and earth. Killing compassion and justice. Killing our human values and democracy.” p182

“They pushed for impunity to fuel climate change, pollute the air, clog oceans with plastics, and destroy forests and species …” p182 [my emphasis]… (altro)

This book by Joel Bakan is an excellent follow-up to "The Corporation," but one that hides a deep flaw. He does not go far enough.

Since he wrote the first book, there has been much pushback from society. People blame corporations for environmental degradation, disease, and other epidemics. With the spread of digital technology, corporations are digging deeper into our lives, even as they profess to be part of the solution.

Joel Bakan's essential premise is the same: corporations are pathological, even if the people who run them are perfectly decent. However, herein lies the flaw. Corporations don't run themselves. They are just legal constructs. People run corporations. Therefore, if corporations espouse greed, it is because the people who run them are greedy. Think about this.… (altro)

This book by Joel Bakan is intriguing indeed. He starts with a short history of the rise of modern organizations and how they have started consuming our lives.
The rise seems to be inexorable. Joel Bakan refers to organizations as pathological entities, and there may be some truth in this assertion. The fact is that an organization exists to market products and services and to return a fair return to its shareholders.
In this relentless search for profit, they have created wealth for a few people and misery for many. Yet, for now, we can't do without them.
Read this book. It is well worth your while.… (altro)