Is it time for a global revolution against corporate power? How to do it?

Question

Everywhere I look, multinational corporations have slowly turned into the masters and owners of everything. Media conglomerates are multinational corporations themselves, spewing propaganda to promote so-called "free" market and more profits for their corporate brethen.
Factories and industries in the democratic first and second world closing one-by-one, to move their production to third world dictatorships and weak democracies with almost no labour rights, where they can pay whetever they hell they want to the workers there, who have to work in subhuman conditions.
In our countries, our societies decompose, with a widening wealth gap between rich and poor that generates resentment and crime, lowering health and education standards, and a gradual corporate takeover of all public spaces. The middle classes are crushed, driven into poverty, while a few chosen ones are allowed to raise to the top just to prove to the rest that "the system works".

True equality of opportunity does not exist.
True democracy does not exist either, since corporate lobbies make obsenely high donations, and manipulate public opinion, to support the political parties that will guarantee them higher profits and more economic de-regulation.
Justice is gone, for corporate clout, judicial and overpaid lawyers ensure that those in power unfairly remain so.
Western countries, run by corporate CEOs themselves, support dictatorships and corrupt governments in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Indonesia, to give a few examples, so that worker rights there never improve and sweatshops can continue to thirve.
Small, national entrepeneurships are crushed as multinationals buy them away or simply crush them with their superior economic leverage.

What do you think? Is there a way to bring back justice, equality and true democracy in this world, hopefully without violence? How to do it?

ps: I'm not a "liberal".
Only people in the US use those simplistic terms to refer to anyone left of Pinochet in the political spectrum.

Answer 1

You are correct.

To start the revolt you need politicians to represent the people and not the corporations and special interests that bought the elections. Don't bother looking , there are none. We no longer have a government of the people... etc.

Answer 2

AH - The revolution is at hand!
I believe the only way to have a message heard or effect change at this point and time is through economics. The first step is to examine the policies and standards if the corporations. Once it is determined who operates outside the laws or ethics, then you target for boycott. Spread the word, get as many on board so the message is felt. Don't forget to tell them what and why you are doing it. Once corporations and governments feel and see the power that the masses actually have, they will conform to what is right - there will be no choice if they want to survive. This is a much stronger possibility than in years before, thanks to technology. It can happen.

It is time for the revolution.

*enjoyed the Pinochet reference!

Answer 3

You sound like you would enjoy reading "Fast Food Nation"... if you haven't already! I don't think a global revolution could work, but I do believe in the subtle power of the consumer. There is only one thing more powerful than a corporation- and that is a group of organized consumers with media attention.

Answer 4

This question requiers more space than what is provided here, but there's a book adressing many of the concerns you have.

This is part of the summary:

Wealth inequity, corporate welfare, and industrial pollution are the symptoms of our sickened economy, Marjorie Kelly suggests. The underlying illness is shareholder primacy. In The Divine Right of Capital, she shows that the corporate drive to maximize shareholder profits at any cost is not only out of step with democratic and free-market principles, but is detrimental to the long-term health of individual companies and the economy as a whole. Kelly, the cofounder and editor of the national journal Business Ethics, offers a far-reaching solution to rebuild corporations in a way that serves all.

Check out the book it is really interesting.

Answer 5

The majority of business in America is from the Small Business owner, If you want businesses to stay in America, then you need to pay for American labor. This is a free country, a capitalistic ecomony makes a profit. You can't pay someone $50 hr to make a widget that you will only pay $29 for. Big corporations bring jobs. You never chase people away who will give you a job.
How do corporations affect education standards? you need to look to the liberals for the dumming down of America. personally I have a more positive outlook on the world, but then I'm not a liberal.

Answer 6

This has been planed over a very long time ago, they knew exactly what was going to happen, when they took all responsibility away from our young people, the parents were not allowed to control their own children, the teachers were given orders that the child was never to be punished, even our police were warned. our country was then flooded with immigrants who were given 'first' choice over British workers, and housing,etc. Ludicrous laws from the EU, driving more and more out of work and onto the streets. This could only go on so long before enough was enough and the bubble burst, and the blame was squarely put on those unruly, uneducated, scum called our children, now we need to get the army in to shoot them. For every action there must be a reaction. Britain is not past repairing, but to do so it MUST be given back to the 'BRITISH' people. We must get out of this despicable EU, then clear our country of the vast number of immigrants.

Answer 7

Yes.

First, we have to hold humans responsible for the crimes or torts committed by corporations. Because corporations are recognized as humans in the courts, they have to be held to the same standard, but you can't arrest a company. Instead we should impose fines, require retribution, and punitive damages for corporations who committ crimes against humanity and the environment.

Until they are hit where it hurts, the wallet, they will continue with grabbing more and more power and walking on individuals every step of the way.

Answer 8

Sorry, but I don't have a plan ready yet. We should all start by shopping local, I think, even if it's more expensive. And may be we should all try to vote only for people without connections to big business, but they might be too hard to find. Apart from boycotting all textiles with designer labels,except if they're made somewhere near you, I can't think of anything else at the moment.

Answer 9

The world is headed toward global anarchy. Governments will be confined to small pockets of control while the masses lay waste to the countryside to the point that they starve themselves to death. The destruction will result in population crashes with only those in the small pockets of control surviving and having the opprotunity to rebuild and repopulate. If you want you and your children to survive stick with the major city centers, stockpile several years worth of foor, water, tradeables, lots of guns and ammo, but don't let anyone know you have that stuff or where it is. Keep a low profile. If you have the capital buy a commercial building to live in, re-enforce it, get connected with the local law enforcement as allies. When the shooting starts, don't hesitate to takeout rioters, and looters if they come after you. Otherwise keep you head down and wait it out. The scum will kill themselves, move out into the countryside looking for food after they strip the stores. If you have the ability, become the local war lord and be ready to ally yourself with the central govenment when it get re established.

Answer 10

It's too late but never say never. Why? Because I agree with "Jesi" 100% and I thought I'd never see that day so anything can happen. (Actually I agree with her more then I'd like to admit) There are times when answers breaks away from all the name calling and that's what makes it worth coming back.