To comment on this video, go to: http://beingism.org/community/?q=node/13
Note: This video is part of a series which debunks myths pertinent to laissez-faire capitalism. Many points not addressed in this video can be found at the above link.
http://Beingism.org
While it is worth something, this kind of market-driven accountability is only effective when 1) the consumers (or things they care about) are the ones potentially harmed by the product or service, 2) most of the product or service's consumers are well-informed about the (sometimes obscure) disadvantages it has (something private interests will typically try to prevent if at all possible), 3) there are realistic alternatives to using the service or product in question, 4) significant numbers of consumers perceive themselves as being capable of doing something about the problem (and have the time and energy to do so), and 5) consumers behave in a maximally rational fashion (which is, of course, by no means a given).
In most cases, therefore, there are many ways the rich can and do use their wealth to harm others. For instance, they:
• lobby government for preferential treatment, changing the law to give themselves special benefits;
• fund politician's campaign in exchange for benefits or a hand in shaping social policy (e.g. invading other countries);
• hire better lawyers and win legal battles about which they are in the wrong;
• destroy living habitats and use for themselves resources which might otherwise have been used to enhance the quality of life for everyone;
• sell unsafe products;
• lie and mislead about the products they're selling or use manipulative sales strategies such as adding undisclosed fees after the fact that increase the price of what they're selling;
• refuse to serve or employ members of unpopular groups;
• pass their wealth and power to others unfairly to those who did nothing to earn them (e.g. through cronyism, the "old boy network," and inheritance);
• use advertising to create or encourage unrealistic ideas and harmful aspects of society (e.g. violence, materialism, discrimination);
• pay non-living wages;
• dictate unreasonable terms to employees under threat of firing or legal action;
• create monopolies to drive competitors out of business and raise prices beyond the ability of people to pay;
• collude with other businesses to eliminate competition and raise prices beyond the ability of people to pay;
• engage in extortion or other illegal means of driving competitors out of business;
• create bureaucracies to stop customers from using their services after they have the customers' money;
• pay or manipulate the media into not exposing their unethical activities.
Some of these actions would be illegal, even in a libertarian society. However, corporations are able to hire expensive lawyers and may use their wealth to influence the courts, and the average consumer typically lacks the time or resources to win such battles. It is also notable that one significant reason governments tend to expand (and usually not in positive ways) is because of lobbying by corporate interests.
It might be fairly argued that governments are also capable of a few of the above behaviors. This is true, but unlike businesses under laissez-faire capitalism, we can design government to be held accountable through elections, transparency, and through individuals or institutions whose sole responsibility is ethical oversight, as well as build in other systems to prevent corruption. Without some form of collective action, accountability is impossible.
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man..you are just blind to the state power. most of the things you are pointing out are just not possible to the degree they are happening now without the corrupt state aiding these actions with a corrupt leagl system and tax payer money. go watch some liberty perspective stuff and learn ;)
dasdeck 1 year ago
you never hold your self accountable eh? Sounds like you have no moral code to me.
* beingism a smart ass*
MirageScience 1 year ago