4 ms·

Speaking of governments, why not large, rogue corporations, ones that are so large that they operate as unelected governments, unaffiliated with any particular

Speaking of governments, why not large, rogue corporations, ones that are so large that they operate as unelected governments, unaffiliated with any particular country and above all law?

snitko 13y ago
I'm amazed at how people are scared of corporations more than governments. Corporations are kept in check because all the money they spend on things are their own money. Now those could be evil things they spend their money on, indeed. But they are limited in resources. They can't print new money or order their customers to pay. Governments can do all of those things and they know that whatever sick shit they do, people will be forced to pay anyway.
- fauigerzigerk 13y ago
  I can tell you why people are scared of corporations. It's because they transcend nation states and hence democracy. They can pick and choose from different jurisdictions for different purposes. Pay taxes here, use good infrastructure there, conform to environmental standards or labor laws in one country whilst exploiting broken political funding rules in another one. I can't say this is always bad. Sometimes it helps us avoid authoritarian ideas that various governments subject us to. Sometimes it leads to cheaper goods and services for all of us. But it is definitely scary how large entities controlled by a small wealthy minority wield such disproportionate power.
  - snitko 13y ago
    > It's because they transcend nation states and hence democracy. They can pick and choose from different jurisdictions for different purposes. Pay taxes here, use good infrastructure there, conform to environmental standards or labor laws in one country whilst exploiting broken political funding rules in another one. None of that I consider to be inherently bad. Democratic states do much worse things, like mass murdering people in wars and imprisoning people for victimless crimes - and all of that states do using money they confiscate from its citizens. Call me when a corporation does anything close to such atrocities.
    - fauigerzigerk 13y ago
      I merely explained why people are scared of corporations. I didn't say that there isn't anything more scary. But if you think that wars haven't been fought over corporate interests or that corporations, organized crime and governments are always completely seperate things you are very mistaken.
fauigerzigerk 13y ago
Sure, these corporations are called organized crime.

Speaking of governments, why not large, rogue corporations, ones that are so large that they operate as unelected governments, unaffiliated with any particular country and above all law?

snitko 13y ago

I'm amazed at how people are scared of corporations more than governments. Corporations are kept in check because all the money they spend on things are their own money. Now those could be evil things they spend their money on, indeed. But they are limited in resources. They can't print new money or order their customers to pay. Governments can do all of those things and they know that whatever sick shit they do, people will be forced to pay anyway.

fauigerzigerk 13y ago
I can tell you why people are scared of corporations. It's because they transcend nation states and hence democracy. They can pick and choose from different jurisdictions for different purposes. Pay taxes here, use good infrastructure there, conform to environmental standards or labor laws in one country whilst exploiting broken political funding rules in another one. I can't say this is always bad. Sometimes it helps us avoid authoritarian ideas that various governments subject us to. Sometimes it leads to cheaper goods and services for all of us. But it is definitely scary how large entities controlled by a small wealthy minority wield such disproportionate power.
- snitko 13y ago
  > It's because they transcend nation states and hence democracy. They can pick and choose from different jurisdictions for different purposes. Pay taxes here, use good infrastructure there, conform to environmental standards or labor laws in one country whilst exploiting broken political funding rules in another one. None of that I consider to be inherently bad. Democratic states do much worse things, like mass murdering people in wars and imprisoning people for victimless crimes - and all of that states do using money they confiscate from its citizens. Call me when a corporation does anything close to such atrocities.
  - fauigerzigerk 13y ago
    I merely explained why people are scared of corporations. I didn't say that there isn't anything more scary. But if you think that wars haven't been fought over corporate interests or that corporations, organized crime and governments are always completely seperate things you are very mistaken.

fauigerzigerk 13y ago

Sure, these corporations are called organized crime.