Amazon, Tesla and Meta among world’s top companies undermining democracy – report

[Nomad4Ever]

Amazon, Tesla and Meta among world’s top companies undermining democracy – report

Corporations such as ExxonMobil and Blackstone also big funders of climate crisis, new trade union report finds

www.theguardian.com

Some of the world’s largest companies have been accused of undermining democracy across the world by financially backing far-right political movements, funding and exacerbating the climate crisis, and violating trade union rights and human rights in a report published on Monday by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

At Amazon, the report notes the company’s size and role as the fifth largest employer in the world and the largest online retailer and cloud computing service, has had a profound impact on the industries and communities it operates within.

“The company has become notorious for its union busting and low wages on multiple continents, monopoly in e-commerce, egregious carbon emissionsthrough its AWS data centres, corporate tax evasion, and lobbying at national and international level,” states the report.

Amazon has also funded far-right political groups’ efforts to undermine women’s rights and antitrust legislation, and its retail website has been used by hate groups to raise money and sell products.

Glencore, the largest mining company in the world by revenue, was included in the report for its role in financing campaigns globally against Indigenous communities and activists.

Blackstone, the private equity firm led by Stephen Schwarzman, a billionaire backer of Donald Trump, was cited in the report for its roles in funding far-right political movements, investments in fossil fuel projects and deforestation in the Amazon.

“They’re playing the long game, and it’s a game about shifting power away from democracy at every level into one where they’re not concerned about the effects on workers – they’re concerned about maximizing their influence and their extractive power and their profit,” added Brogan. “Now is the time for international and multi-sectoral strategies, because these are, in many cases, multinational corporations that are more powerful than states, and they have no democratic accountability whatsoever, except for workers organized.”

When discussing the cause of many political problems, corporations tend to fly under the radar. Their influence is often overlooked and the fact that the larger ones are in many ways as powerful as nation states but function on a basis of autocratic authoritarian top down decision making rarely if ever discussed.

Corporate power and influence is something that needs to be actively fought. Their interests are not your interests and often they aren't our country's interests either. What isn't even mentioned in this article is that one time Elon openly backed a coup of a democratically elected leader in Bolivia because that leader threatened to be less friendly towards his businesses.

After Bolivia, Elon Musk says capitalists can overthrow any government they want

Billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk has come under fire after welcoming last year’s overthrow of Bolivian president Evo Morales in what was seen as a bid to obtain the country’s lithium reserves. In response to a tweet on Saturday that accused the U.S.

www.peoplesworld.org

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

 

[Peacenik]

Amazon, Tesla and Meta among world’s top companies undermining democracy – report

Corporations such as ExxonMobil and Blackstone also big funders of climate crisis, new trade union report finds

www.theguardian.com

When discussing the cause of many political problems, corporations tend to fly under the radar. Their influence is often overlooked and the fact that the larger ones are in many ways as powerful as nation states but function on a basis of autocratic authoritarian top down decision making rarely if ever discussed.

Corporate power and influence is something that needs to be actively fought. Their interests are not your interests and often they aren't our country's interests either. What isn't even mentioned in this article is that one time Elon openly backed a coup of a democratically elected leader in Bolivia because that leader threatened to be less friendly towards his businesses.

After Bolivia, Elon Musk says capitalists can overthrow any government they want

Billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk has come under fire after welcoming last year’s overthrow of Bolivian president Evo Morales in what was seen as a bid to obtain the country’s lithium reserves. In response to a tweet on Saturday that accused the U.S.

www.peoplesworld.org

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

Totally agree 100%

It is insidious. I won't do business with Amazon or any large corporation if I can avoid it, but it's difficult. Most people refuse to give up the conveniences provided by these large corporations. I won't use social media. The price paid for that is being left out of things which are organized on social media. People have this attitude that if you are not on social media, you pretty much don't exist. Social skills have been replaced by for-profit corporations who have a hand in controlling how people think and behave.

I have opposed corporate power for a long time, tried to share how important it is, but most people are not interested. Their apathy is what gives the rich increased power.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

I won't use social media. The price paid for that is being left out of things which are organized on social media. People have this attitude that if you are not on social media, you pretty much don't exist.

I feel that. I also am not on almost any social media, except for the open source Mastadon but hardly anyone is on there. I refuse to use Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat.

 

[Peacenik]

I feel that. I also am not on almost any social media, except for the open source Mastadon but hardly anyone is on there. I refuse to use Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat.

The apathy about resisting the power-grab of big corporations includes an often expressed sentiment that it is futile to resist things such as social media and Amazon on the basis of their personal information grabbing because "They are going to get your information anyway."

That is a bullshit rumor.

We need to identify why our society is being ripped apart, and actively take brave steps to resist that effect.

It could involve some personal sacrifice, but it is for the better.

 

[NatMorton]

Amazon, Tesla and Meta among world’s top companies undermining democracy – report

Corporations such as ExxonMobil and Blackstone also big funders of climate crisis, new trade union report finds

www.theguardian.com

When discussing the cause of many political problems, corporations tend to fly under the radar. Their influence is often overlooked and the fact that the larger ones are in many ways as powerful as nation states but function on a basis of autocratic authoritarian top down decision making rarely if ever discussed.

Corporate power and influence is something that needs to be actively fought. Their interests are not your interests and often they aren't our country's interests either. What isn't even mentioned in this article is that one time Elon openly backed a coup of a democratically elected leader in Bolivia because that leader threatened to be less friendly towards his businesses.

After Bolivia, Elon Musk says capitalists can overthrow any government they want

Billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk has come under fire after welcoming last year’s overthrow of Bolivian president Evo Morales in what was seen as a bid to obtain the country’s lithium reserves. In response to a tweet on Saturday that accused the U.S.

www.peoplesworld.org

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

So you're going to promote democracy by granting the federal government more authority to control markets and to curb speech by CEOs?

You've some funny ideas about what democracy is all about.

 

[DrewPaul]

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

Have they armed themselves? Do they have a standing army?

 

[Nomad4Ever]

Have they armed themselves? Do they have a standing army?

Do you have a child's understanding of how power and influence work?

Though in other countries...yeah actually some have been known to hire mercenaries to overthrow governments that aren't friendly to their business interesting or to attack striking workers.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

So you're going to promote democracy by granting the federal government more authority to control markets and to curb speech by CEOs?

You've some funny ideas about what democracy is all about.

I didn't once suggest anything regarding the speech of individual CEOs. I'm not talking about individuals. I'm talking about a systemic issue.

The examples given had nothing to do with controlling markets either.

I cited examples of corporations directly engaging in anti-democratic behavior. Like Elon Musk backing Bolivia's coup to instate an autocrat over the democratically elected leader. Or did you just not read that part?

 

[DrewPaul]

Do you have a child's understanding of how power and influence work?

Though in other countries...yeah actually some have been known to hire mercenaries to overthrow governments that aren't friendly to their business interesting or to attack striking workers.

No, I just don't believe in wild ass claims.

 

[JerryW]

So you're going to promote democracy by granting the federal government more authority to control markets and to curb speech by CEOs?

This is one approach.

Another is to support markets that support competition so we have fewer mega corporations which make a few people very rich.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

No, I just don't believe in wild ass claims.

It isn't a claim? He just...publicly Tweeted about it. Did you even read the article I cited?

This is just objectively demonstrably true. I'm shocked you didn't already know about it as it was a pretty big deal when it happened.

I guess that's what happens when you only real conservative news sources.

 

[NatMorton]

Like Elon Musk backing Bolivia's coup to instate an autocrat over the democratically elected leader.

Be specific, to keep him from "undermining democracy," what should the federal government do about Musk's advocacy for a Bolivian coup? Fines? Imprisonment? A good talking to? What?

 

[NatMorton]

Another is to support markets that support competition so we have fewer mega corporations which make a few people very rich.

That is nonsense.

We support markets, and can you side a thriving economy anywhere at anytime in the last 200 years that didn't result in some people becoming extremely wealthy?

 

[instagramsci]

Amazon, Tesla and Meta among world’s top companies undermining democracy – report

Corporations such as ExxonMobil and Blackstone also big funders of climate crisis, new trade union report finds

www.theguardian.com

When discussing the cause of many political problems, corporations tend to fly under the radar. Their influence is often overlooked and the fact that the larger ones are in many ways as powerful as nation states but function on a basis of autocratic authoritarian top down decision making rarely if ever discussed.

Corporate power and influence is something that needs to be actively fought. Their interests are not your interests and often they aren't our country's interests either. What isn't even mentioned in this article is that one time Elon openly backed a coup of a democratically elected leader in Bolivia because that leader threatened to be less friendly towards his businesses.

After Bolivia, Elon Musk says capitalists can overthrow any government they want

Billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk has come under fire after welcoming last year’s overthrow of Bolivian president Evo Morales in what was seen as a bid to obtain the country’s lithium reserves. In response to a tweet on Saturday that accused the U.S.

www.peoplesworld.org

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

Gilded Age Pt. 2 hell yeah brother

 

[Nomad4Ever]

Be specific, to keep him from "undermining democracy," what should the federal government do about Musk's advocacy for a Bolivian coup? Fines? Imprisonment? A good talking to? What?

Ideally I'd like, through unions or worker cooperatives, for no private individual to exist with the wealth, power, and influence for their statements and decisions to be able to effect the democracy of entire countries.

He has the wealth and power of a small country. Him agreeing to partner up with the military dictatorship to build lithium mines in the country is an actual significant amount of economic leverage he unilaterally controls.

And yeah, I do think supporting the interference of foreign elections should be illegal.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

That is nonsense.

We support markets, and can you side a thriving economy anywhere at anytime in the last 200 years that didn't result in some people becoming extremely wealthy?

Did you even read his comment?

He was talking about anti-competitive monopolies. Not random individuals being rich. Corporations consolidating control and stamping out competition. That's what he was talking about.

The result is a few people get rich, but source of the issue he raised was monopolies stifling markets. Not the concept of wealthy people.

 

[NatMorton]

Ideally I'd like, through unions or worker cooperatives, for no private individual to exist with the wealth, power, and influence for their statements and decisions to be able to effect the democracy of entire countries.

He has the wealth and power of a small country. Him agreeing to partner up with the military dictatorship to build lithium mines in the country is an actual significant amount of economic leverage he unilaterally controls.

And yeah, I do think supporting the interference of foreign elections should be illegal.

What if a collectively owned version of Tesla did the same thing, would it then be okay?

 

[NatMorton]

Did you even read his comment?

He was talking about anti-competitive monopolies. Not random individuals being rich. Corporations consolidating control and stamping out competition. That's what he was talking about.

The result is a few people get rich, but source of the issue he raised was monopolies stifling markets. Not the concept of wealthy people.

Yes, I did. He spoke of “mega corporations” and very rich people, neither of which are “corporations consolidating control and stamping out competition.”

So the better question is did you read his comment?

 

[Nomad4Ever]

What if a collectively owned version of Tesla did the same thing, would it then be okay?

No of course not. I just think they would be less likely to do so.

I support democracy as a system of government because I think many people making decisions on average arrive at better choices than a single person or a small group of people. I think that autocratic and top down decision making inherently allows for things like a single megalomaniac. I still think bad decisions can be made democratically I just think it is the best bad system we have.

 

[Nomad4Ever]

Yes, I did. He spoke of “mega corporations” and very rich people, neither of which are “corporations consolidating control and stamping out competition.”

So the better question is did you read his comment?

What do you think "support markets that support competition so we have fewer mega corporations" means?

Our current system is heavily consolidated and monopolized and is rife with anticompetitive business practices. So he's saying he wants to support the development of markets in such a way as to make them less consolidated and more competitive. And he thinks that in doing so there would be fewer uber wealthy people and more equal wealth distribution.

 

[Luce]

Have they armed themselves? Do they have a standing army?

The stupidity of that post has made the world a marginally worse place in which to live.

There should be some sort of award for that level of "accomplishment".

 

[j brown's body]

So you're going to promote democracy by granting the federal government more authority to control markets and to curb speech by CEOs?

You've some funny ideas about what democracy is all about.

Monopolies don't break up by themselves.

 

[j brown's body]

What if a collectively owned version of Tesla did the same thing, would it then be okay?

Is it fair to assume that for you, the answer is "yes?"

 

[Lord of Planar]

If democracy is to survive we need to recognize the existential threat powerful multinational corporations pose.

They are not undermining democracy. They are undermining the left.

 

[Lord of Planar]

So you're going to promote democracy by granting the federal government more authority to control markets and to curb speech by CEOs?

You've some funny ideas about what democracy is all about.

We cannot let the left call their socialism and communism, democracy.