Threat to Democracy prt1

CORPORATE POWER

Globalisation is attacking Democracy. Corporations have become behemoths, huge global giants that wield immense political power. Propelled by government policies of privatisation, deregulation and trade liberalisation. The 100 largest multi nationals now control about 20% of global assets, 51 of the 100 biggest economies in the world are now corporations. National Governments, competing for investment flows, court these corporations and pander to their needs. Rather than aiming to control their activities for the public good, governments are providing them with countless alibis and allowing big business to shape them and their policies.

Politicians now offer only one system, a system based on laissez-faire economics, the culture of consumerism, the power of finance. A system in which the corporation is king, the state it's subject and it's citizens nothing more than consumers. Governments ensure of an environment which is attractive to big business. For example, blind eyes are turned to tax loopholes and dodges so that big business can keep it's bounty. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, up to the end of 1998, paid no British Corporation Tax at all, despite having made £1.4 billion in profit over the previous ten years. Blair says it's not worth trying to tax the rich as they always find ways of avoiding it, so that's the end of the story. This whilst our public services and infrastructure are crumbling.

The role of the Nation State has become to a large extent, simply that of providing the workforce and infrastructure that big business needs at the lowest cost and protecting their 'Free Trade' system. In the process, Justice, Equity, Rights and the Environment fall by the wayside.

Background:

1. Intro

2. Corporate Power

3. Government

4. Media Power

Corporate Power - Hold 'em to Account!!

HOW TO HOLD YOUR MP TO ACCOUNT!!
Find your MP, their parliamentary voting record, questions and govt responses, speeches, edm's signed, declared interests, contact details and those of their constituency party. Using the facts you can make an informed judgement on their performance as your elected representaive. In the likely hood that they aren't representing you, we show you how to Hold 'Em To Account!!

MEDIA: JOHN PILGER INTERVIEWS JAMES RUBIN
A rare example of real journalism. If more 'journalists' had asked these kinds of questions and done their research instead of just regurgitating propaganda, perhaps we could have avoided the Iraq War. It makes interesting reading, pretty much devastating the 'humanitarian' argument for war.

CORPORATE: FEATURED CAMPAIGN
The Trade Justice Movement campaigns for fundamental change to the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade, so that trade is made to work for all.