Just seen "The Corporation" WOW

[Michael_UK]

I'm probably a bit behind most of you guys with this but I've just seen "The Corporation".

www.thecorporation.com

I'm naturally sceptical, and I thought that it would be a bit extreme and the first few minutes didn't disavow me of that opinion. However, as the film progressed I was amazed. When you see the damage corporations have done, are doing and promise to do, it takes your breath away.

Any thoughts? Anyone know any counterpoints to the film? (to satisfy my scepticism)

[yvr girl]

1. It's a pretty powerful film

I don't think all corporations are bad but the bigger they get, the more likely they will lose their heart.

[AP]

13. When they get more powerful than government, consumers and investors

the more likely they'll use their power to exploit them.

[JDPriestly]

2. Isn't it great.

We ordered from the company that released it a copy weeks ago, but haven't received it yet. Has anyone had a similar experience. Are they just slow or is there some other problem?

[Postman]

3. Counterpoints? Hello? How about looking at the mainstream media?

Is Fox News (owned by ultra-conservative Rupert Murdoch aka Newwscorp) a reputable "NEWS" information outlet, or a rightwing propaganda machine?

Ever heard of Haliburton? Kellogg, Brown and Root? Ever heard of Iraq?

Counterpoints???

[Michael_UK]

4. I think, perhaps, you misunderstood me

I wasn't looking for a Bill O'Reilly where he says corporations are great and that's ok - but I've heard arguments, from reputable sources that some corporations are doing some good stuff -

It's just when I see something, I like to see if there is an alternative view that I can judge for myself

[Postman]

7. Understood. Corporations NEED regulation.

otherwise its every man for himself.

[TahitiNut]

14. "some corporations are doing some good stuff" ???

Even serial murderers can drop money into the offering plate or Salvation Army pot. :shrug:

Just because a criminal stops at a stop sign, it doesn't mean he's law-abiding.

[EVDebs]

5. I can't argue with the synopsis ... corporations exhibit psychopathic

behaviors.

"To more precisely assess the "personality" of the corporate "person," a checklist is employed, using actual diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization and the DSM-IV, the standard diagnostic tool of psychiatrists and psychologists. The operational principles of the corporation give it a highly anti-social "personality": It is self-interested, inherently amoral, callous and deceitful; it breaches social and legal standards to get its way; it does not suffer from guilt, yet it can mimic the human qualities of empathy, caring and altruism. Four case studies, drawn from a universe of corporate activity, clearly demonstrate harm to workers, human health, animals and the biosphere. Concluding this point-by-point analysis, a disturbing diagnosis is delivered: the institutional embodiment of laissez-faire capitalism fully meets the diagnostic criteria of a "psychopath."" from:

http://www.thecorporation.com/index.php?page_id=2

It seems self-evident and therefore undebatable. Counterpoints aren't necessary !

[Michael_UK]

6. My criticism would be...

you take individuals from the human race that have done terrible things ... here's a guy in Alabama that killed three people, here's a group of terrorists in Iraq, they've killed seven people... conclusions, humans are psychotic.

I agree with the general argument of the film - corporations have way too much power.

[EVDebs]

9. The theological, Biblical view would be sinners can be saved

Can a corporation ? LOL ! Some seem the embodiment of 'antichrist'. Beholden only to Mammon and Wall Street and whatever bourse they bow to.

[Just Me]

8. I haven't seen it, YET. I have read, "Confessions of an Economic Hitman".

I'll bet the film is fairly consistent with what John Perkins reveals in his book.

As is true with anything in life, it's not the institution or political philosophy or religious theology that is necessarily bad/destructive/evil/repugnant,...but rather, it is man or the men who use such things in destructive ways for strictly self-service/gain.

[bpilgrim]

10. Corporation as Psychopath - Corporations Need Treatment

Corporation as Psychopath
by Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman


People ask -- Rob, Russell, the world is going to hell in a handbasket. What can we do about it?

We say -- read one book, see one movie.

Unfortunately, the movie and the book are available now only in Canada.

But wait -- before you head north of the border -- they will be available here in a month or so.

And believe us, it is worth the wait. (Full disclosure -- our work -- the Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the 1990s -- is featured in the movie.)

The book is titled: The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. It is by Joel Bakan (Free Press, 2004).

The movie is called: The Corporation. It is by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott, and Joel Bakan.

We've seen an advance copy of the movie.

We're read an advance copy of the book.

And here's our review:

Scrap the civics curricula in your schools, if they exist.

Cancel your cable TV subscriptions.

Call your friends, your enemies and your family.

Get your hands on a copy of this movie and a copy of this book.

Read the book. Discuss it. Dissect it. Rip it apart.

Watch the movie. Show it to your children. Show it to your right-wing relatives. Show it to everyone. Organize a party around it. Then organize another.

more...
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0218-01.htm

and

Corporations Need Treatment, Documentary Argues
by Stephen Leahy

TORONTO - Corporations are not only the most powerful institutions in the world, they are also psychopathic, a new Canadian documentary on globalization elegantly argues.

While the corporation has the rights and responsibilities of ”a legal person”, its owners and shareholders are not liable for its actions. Moreover, the film explains, a corporation's directors are legally required to do what is best for the company, regardless of the harm created.

What kind of person would a corporation be? A clinical psychopath, answers the documentary, which is now playing in four Canadian theatres.

”Everything we do in the world is touched by corporations in some way,” says 'The Corporation' writer Joel Bakan.

more...
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0120-03.htm

psst... pass the word ;->

peace

[NVMojo]

12. I almost picked this movie up at Blockbuster

on Friday but put it back because I had not heard of it. It looked like a documentary of sorts, like a Michael Moore type movie. Now I'm going back to rent it. Thanks!!!

[Michael_UK]

15. I rented it today (from an independent store of course) /nt

[EVDebs]

17. BTW, you may also want to rent the movie and read the book

on GW Bush's relatives involvement in a weird little overlooked part of US history...The Plot To Overthrow FDR
www.ihffilm.com/r547.html

USMC Gen Smedley D Butler (2x CMOH) blew the whistle on this aborted coup d'etat back in the '30s. Or else we'd have been susceptible to corporate fascism much earlier than today.

The book version, The Plot to Seize the White House, by Jules Archer, is a very difficult book to get ahold of-- plus something like $300 in book searches. It needs to be put back in print.
http://www.bookshopinc.com/cgi-bin/bsp455/189274.html

[Just Me]

16. No kidding. I'll have to get my hands on that!!!!

My buddies would love to arrange rental of our small, local theatre to show an informative roll of info.

Where can I get it, "bpilgrim"?

[EVDebs]

18. See post #17 for a good look at a movie M$M won't show

not even if lives depended upon it !

[AP]

11. See Life & Debt next.

[K-W]

19. ignore, mispost