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Hertz: Chapter 5

Hertz: Chapter 5. Politics for Sale. Price of Politics. Party politics has increasingly become one dimensional – all parties support capitalism This makes it difficult for parties to differentiate themselves to voters

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Hertz: Chapter 5

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  1. Hertz: Chapter 5 Politics for Sale

  2. Price of Politics • Party politics has increasingly become one dimensional – all parties support capitalism • This makes it difficult for parties to differentiate themselves to voters • The results is that the politics of campaigning has shifted from substantive discussion of issues to media glitz

  3. Corporate Donations • High cost of campaigning means candidates must turn to business for cash • Of course, corporations are not in the habit of giving something for nothing, so they expect favorable treatment from those they bankroll • Hertz says this is wrong • Mueller?

  4. The Result? • As politics increasingly becomes corporatepolitics, people are: • Withdrawing from politics • Withdrawing from parties • Increasingly distrusting of politics

  5. Hertz: Chapter 6 Shop, Don’t Vote

  6. Supermarket Activism • As governments cozy up to companies, citizens are taking action • Citizens are using their power as consumers • Genetically modified foods – Monsanto • Shell Oil – Brent Spar oil storage structure

  7. StopEsso Stop BushIf Bush was acting on global warming, he wouldn’t need to invade Iraq for cheap oil. Esso, more than any other oil company is sabotaging international action on global warming. One million people in the UK don’t buy Esso.

  8. Burger Boycott Halted (9/2001) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling a halt to its Burger King boycott, which reached over 800 restaurants across the U.S. and prompted the burger mogul to enforce stricter standards for the handling of its food animals.

  9. Restaurant in West Bank settlement angers Muslims and Arabs Washington, DC (August 4, 1999)- On Thursday, August 5, a coalition of organizations will announce a worldwide campaign to boycott Burger King restaurants. American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) called for the boycott after Burger King ignored Muslims concerns over the opening ofarestaurant in Palestinian territory occupied by Israel.

  10. Sept. 11, 2000 (AP) The Reverend Al Sharpton wants a boycott of Burger King if the world's number two fast-food chain does not discuss its attempt to revoke a black owner's franchises.

  11. Something New to Discover (2/2001) The International Rivers Network (IRN) is calling for consumers to snap their Discover credit cards in two and send the pieces back to the parent company, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. The purpose: to protest the company's financial involvement in China's Three Gorges Dam.

  12. New Consumerism • Citizen pressure is demanding that corporations be judged by more than economic criteria • Citizens are holding corporations accountable in way politicians won’t anymore

  13. How Widespread is Consumerism? • New consumerism enlists the support of millions in the industrialized world • Buying decisions are increasingly influenced by the responsibility of the corporation

  14. Why the Rise in Consumerism • Fall of USSR • Rise of global corporation • Governments fail to act • Communication technology

  15. Investment Consumerism • 1 in 8 dollars invested in ethical funds

  16. Companies are Responding • Consumer and shareholder revolts have caused: • Companies to change policies, manufacturing locations, labor practices, etc. • Politicians to tacitly endorse revolts

  17. Hertz: Chapter 7 All That Glitters

  18. Consumers’ and Shareholders’ Access to Information • In order to boycott and make ethical investment decisions, consumers and shareholders must have full and accurate information about companies • Such information is often difficult to find because the media depends on corporations for advertising dollars • And, as media outlets consolidate, the problem gets more serious

  19. Neutral Media Sources? • Even supposedly neutral information sources can be biased • Academic research units depend more and more on corporate dollars • Same with independent “think tanks” • Even government regulatory agencies are sometimes corrupted

  20. E-information • The Web provides an unbridled source of information on corporations • Web sites policing corporate activities have exploded, and they are available, of course, to anyone with access to the Web • Email has made it much easier and faster to spread the word

  21. Downside to E-information • Just like corporations sugarcoat negative stories about business, web sites often exaggerate risks of corporate behavior

  22. Hertz: Chapter 8 Evangelical Entrepreneurs

  23. Hope? • In this chapter Hertz offers an unexpected defense of mega-capitalism • It seems, she thinks, that many of the very wealthy, such as Ted Turner, Ben Cohen, etc., are turning out to be very altruistic • The super rich are using their dollars to promote charities, sometimes of their own creation

  24. Business Philanthropy • Tycoons seem to be increasingly using their fortunes to promote social causes, from welfare to economic reforms to environmental protection • These rich individuals also often act as unofficial spokespersons with foreign government leaders

  25. Change of position? • As the business of government is increasingly business, is the business of business increasingly government?

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