Do multinational corporations rule the world?

Question

Who is the most powerful person / corporation in the world?

Answer 1

I could go on for 75 pages with this answer, but I dont have the mental energy right now and instead I will just answer your question: YES.

Answer 2

An anecdote:

In the 1970's, the federal government passed a law to slow the pollution of the air by requiring new cars to have catalytic converters. Ford was not ready to make the change. It would have cost too much to retool. So, Ford told the gov't that they'd have to allow an extension for a couple of years.

The gov't said, "But, we're the gov't and we're telling you that you've got to put the converters on your cars."

Ford replied that he had enough money to remain a multimillionair for the rest of his life, his children would be millionaires, and their children would be millionaires. So, he could just close down his factories and live happily ever after.

The gov't figured out how many thousand factory workers would lose their jobs, how many sales people would be unemployed, and the financial institutions would suffer. But, they still persisted.

Ford pointed out that it wasn't just Ford employees who'd be affected, Libby Owens supplied the glass for car windows, Philco made the radios, Firestone manufactured the tires, and so forth. In other words, to close Ford factories would have a "ripple effect" on the rest of the economy.

The gov't backed off, and we had to wait several years more before catalytic converters were standard issue.

Over the past three decades, the huge corporations have become even bigger and more powerful. For example, General Motors bought in whole or in part Opel (Germany), Vauxhall (Britain), Isuzu (Japan), Fiat (Italy), Saab (Sweden), and Suzuki (Japan). It also bought out Delphi (South Africa), an auto parts manufacturer, and Electronic Data Processing (Ross Perot's company). More recently, it picked up Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Delta (South Africa), and Wuling (China) -- all auto manufacturers. And, of course, it tried to slip Saturn onto the market, pretending that it was not wholly owned by G.M. [So, if you've ever wondered why the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, Buick Ranier, and Saab 9-7X all look alike, it's because they are.]

Then, there're the telephone companies. In the 1970's, we had one phone company, AT&T. But, the government finally won a court battle that forced AT&T to split up into seven independent companies.

But, in recent years, the companies have been merging together, and each has acquired new companies, particularly in the fields of computers and wireless communications.

The seven companies were Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, NYNexus, Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, and US West. AT&T was still around, but it only handled long-distance calls.

Today, because of mergers, we have only three companies: AT&T, Qwest, and Verizon. During its absence from the national telephone scene, AT&T became a multinational company. Now, it's more powerful than ever.

This year, we've seen the merger of Bank of America and MBNA, without too much fuss from the press. B of A is already a gigantic corporation, and MBNA is the world's largest issuer of credit cards.

And, don't get me started on Wal-Mart.

Hey, I'm starting to scare myself. Anyway, do you get my point?

Answer 3

Bill Gates as the most powerful person. Think about it. Even though there are more than just one computer software companies. If Bill Gates decided to close down shop at the Microsoft corp. Everyone would go crazy!

Answer 4

because of the fact the British empire. and that i think of you're making a mistake. It isnt approximately earnings. it quite is approximately administration. united states of america of america does not have an undemanding 40% tax value if prosperity grew to become into its purpose. The purpose is to maintain the human beings desperate, and to grant government friendly corporatist companies all the breaks they might desire to dominate. this way government can advance its dominion.

Answer 5

the four most powerful markets in descending order:

1) energy (oil/etc.)
2) weaponry
3) computers
4) drugs...

so the players in those fields have a lot of play, just look at what the oil guys can do to this country

Answer 6

Yes, in a way. The most powerful is BG & his Co. taking into a/c. the present & future.

Answer 7

Haliburton.

Answer 8

The oil companies and credit companies