How have made America like the USSR

The great power struggle of the 20th centuryCommunism vs “free market” Corporatism

The economics of the “free market” system allowed for Multinational Corporations to amass great wealth and thus power.

Corporations

As of 2009…Wal-Mart Stores, had revenues exceeding the respective GDPs of 174 countries[i]including Sweden, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela

employed over 2 million people, more than the entire population of Qatar. If it was a country, it would be the 22nd largest in the world.

Shell has bigger revenues than the combined GDPs of Pakistan and Bangladesh,

the sixth and seventh most populous nations in the world, together home to 350 million people.

Sinopec > Singapore.

insurer AXA > Nigeria.

Ford > New Zealand.

1. ExxonMobil – $486 billion – 27th2. Shell – $470 billion – 28th3. Walmart -$446 billion – 29th4. BP – $386 billion – 31st

5. Vitol - $297 billion – 40th6. Sinopec - $273 billion - 43rd7. Chevron - $253 billion – 47th 8. Conoco-Phillips - $251 billion – 48th9. Samsung - $247 billion – 49th10.Toyota - $235 billion - not in top

50 Notice a pattern inWhat companies are in theTop 10 in terms of revenue?

Reduction of ChoiceIn the 70’s American retail was dominated by “mom and pop” shops.

Now corporations control the variety of goods on their shelves, in stores nationwide.

From clothes to food to media, if “walmart” doesn’t want to carry it you will have trouble finding the funds to produce your product.

HealthcareBefore:

Majority of Doctors grouped together (less than 20) to form an independent practice

this allowed leeway (freedom) to choose how patients are cared for without being second guessed

Now:

2/3 of doctors don’t own their own practice now due to large administrative cost of dealing with insurance companies, now they are salaried employees of a large corporate entity

pressure to shorten visits, rack up billable hours and stick to narrow protocols of accepted treatment

Insurers second guess every doctor orderAll information on new drugs and treatment is co-opted ( through funding or lack there of ) to ensure doctors do not get bad information on profitable drugs

THIS UNDERMINES EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE for corporate driven medicinewe do not have a free or independent system, one where patients and

doctors are at liberty to make appropriate decisions without interference (much of it from people who are not even MD’s)

Testing not TeachingCommunist education was criticized for rote learning – no discussion, no critical thinking skills, all aimed at preparing students for high stakes testing, that would determine their place in society.

We want education which advocatescritical thinking

creativity

personal choice

future professional choice

And…???

Additional Examples• Modern home designs?

• Food supply?

• Voting system ?

• Privatized and Militarized Law Enforcement?

• And …Forced labor Camps?

Who should step in to dictate which corporations continue to grow or which ones “die”?Government ? The Court System? Other Corporations? OR WHOEVER?

Who should step in?How should they step in?Why is this way the best?

THE BULK OF YOUR ESSAYThe bulk of your essay should be on answering question 1. Do you agree or disagree that corporations are like the soviet union and making our freedoms more like that of communist countries. (use the big 3 of healthcare, education, and choice, or the bulleted extra points, or to be more unique use some of your own examples! *better grade*)

Next big point is going to be if you agree, whom should step in to fix this problem and why do you think this is the best way.

Then address the law that guides most all corporate behavior. Corporations number one goal is to maximize their profit, this comes above all else, this is how they should make all decisions.

Finally if you have a small business what would it be like if a corporation made you go bankrupt.

Essay FormatMinimum length you must FILL 4 PAGES OR YOU GET A ZERO!

You must answer all 4 questions (please write your paper in order of the questions)

12 pt font, double spaced, PUT ALL TITLE INFORMATION IN A HEADER DO NOT USE MLA FORMATTING FOR THE TITLE WHICH TAKES UP HALF A PAGE!

All margins on the essay should be one inch. Printed and handed in ON MONDAY DECEMBER 2!

www.daviseric.comClick Jurupa Hills High School page, and you can download the article & questions, or this powerpoint.

Who should step in to dictate which corporations continue to grow or which ones “die”?Government ? The Court System? Other Corporations? OR WHOEVER?

Who should step in?How should they step in?Why is this way the best?