Monday, October 24, 2011

Should we thank corporations for the air we breathe?


The above illustration, which is getting wide circulation in market-oriented blogs is posted by a John Hinderaker. Each arrow points to a distinctive well-known brand product. The illustration has the pedagogic aim of exhibiting the protesters' bad faith, which consists of wearing products made by the corporations they criticize. Hinderaker relishes the following platitude:
I've always wondered: where do people who don't like corporations work? Do they seriously want to turn the clock back by centuries –it would take some research to figure to how many– to a world in which the only forms of business organization are sole proprietorships and partnerships? And who do they think designs, manufactures and distributes the products they use? Elves? 
Hinderaker confounds "work," an essential productive human activity with "wage-labor," an economic category, as if the former was a sufficient condition of the latter. A more perverse conclusion of his argument is that since we're all consumers, we are forced to accept -even justify- corporative excess as a blessing. We should fall on our knees & thank Gap for the opportunity to purchase a pair of jeans at fair market price!

Additionally, we should be grateful for Gap's being-there, as it were, for as long it exists people will hold jobs. Is Hinderaker referring to those in the production-line in China or Indonesia, making $7 for a 12-hour day, or America's retail, where being a manager earns you $7.50 an hour without commission? In Hinderaker's bureaucratic paradise, people hold jobs not because they are competent at doing something. Rather, work becomes an undeserved gift bestowed on individuals by a corporate superstructure.  

Hinderaker's corporate genuflection is not surprising, but he distorts the real aim of this movement, which is not to denounce corporations for just being corporations, which is vapid, but to denounce corporate excess, i.e., unethical corporate-friendly legislation, unfair corporate tax breaks, irresponsible corporate deregulation and its dramatic aftermath: lack of opportunities, unemployment, the crumbling of American manufacturing and organized labor, urban blight, etc, etc.

(Hypothetically speaking, I don't have to thank Gap for the jeans I paid for, nor wearing Gap jeans renders me impotent to denounce Gap's unethical corporate practices).

 Occupying what?

To "occupy" may show a group's determination to seize possession of, and/or maintain control over a place. This is not done by force. It's a right enacted by the force of consensus. To put it simply: There is the real, public space where protesters camp (Zucotti Park, Miami's Government Center, etc), and there is an ideal space of freedom. One needs the other. "To camp" in the physical space happens because one already dwells in this ideal space. "To occupy" is to do both. Occupy Wall Street or Occupy Miami protesters redefine the rules of dwelling: 1- They now live "outside" for the sake of all of us. 2- Their place takes over and opposes Wall Street's "center." 3-  Their "occupation" makes for a primal political happening. What is it?

Wall Street is the center of the 1% that rules the remaining 99%. This brutal gap exposes financial capitalism's unfairness. Acting as a gate of capital flowmation into the periphery, Wall Street's inflowence visibly erodes region, place and borders. The "occupying" movement counters this engineering kinematics of globalization with a "political place," which reclaims what's rightfully theirs, ours. This interconnectedness between material and symbolic brings forth possible new couplings:

We've dwelt in the wrong place for too long!

I'm closing this post this post on Thursday, October 27.

32 comments:

  1. Protesters against Wall Street spread from state to states. Now they are in Miami. Protesters in Miami also manifest their discontentment against those big corporations. They are complaining about corporations’ moral behaviors. They say that big corporations are part of the economic crisis that we are now. They say that corporations don’t care about seventy five percent of us who struggle to put foods on our tables. The only thing they care about is their profits. They charge us all kinds of fees just to increase their profits. For instance, most of the banks right now decide to charge us five dollars monthly fees besides all the fees that they have already charged us. In addition, few years ago, mortgage companies that associated with the banks forced us to buy houses that we cannot afford. They knew that we would not be able to pay our monthly payments, but they gave us the loans anyway. They did that just for their own interests. Profits are the only thing that drives the big corporations. They do not care about millions of us who are out of jobs and cannot provide anything for our families. They also don’t care about our country’s debt. All they care about is their interests. Some of the protesters say that they are here to tell those rich people that they understand the cause of the problems. Imagine, if one fifth of the population own fifty percent of our wealth, it is enough to put us in this situation that we are now. We want the big corporations to think about the problems we are now and want them to share the wealth of this country with us.

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  2. Protestors are traveling from states to states to make a difference by protesting and sleeping in camping tents to make corporation hear and feel what they are going through. Corporations don't really are whether people are getting paid well and they have to support a family, big corps just want to devour money even from their own employees, if and when it comes to that opportunity. I see protestors in downtown Miami behind the art museum in tents camping and they've been there for two weeks now, fighting for their right for fairness.

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  3. I don't support the Occupy movement but I'm also not against it. My neutrality on the matter is mainly focused on how unproductive and unorganized it is. Most of the protesters are asking why the government hasn't prosecuted any Wall Street excutives for their actions. What they don't realize, is that Wall Street really didn't do anything illegal. Immoral yes but illegal no.

    So then what are the people in protest for? Corporate greed--yes. Economic inequality--yes. Corporate power--big yes. And what is their demand? To separate money from politics? Will that ever happen? Absolutely not. As long as the people in our country continue to feed corporations by buying and supporting there product, then we are all guilty of drinking the Kool-Aid. It's a very odd thing when the people protesting in the movement are hypocrites of the movement itself!

    I understand their frustrations with what's going on in our country economically, but in order for them to really get their point across, they need to do something substantially more impactful than camping infront of Wall Street and yelling. The good thing about our country is that we are civilised for the most part, so when we protest it usually doesn't lead into chaotic riots like in Egypt. It's only when the government loses control of the people that they act. We're a very materialistic nation and until we let that go, we have no real say or power over what happens to us. Corporations will always have that over our heads.

    Another thing is that Wall Street does not care movements or people complaining about job loss. Why--because they are the 1% not the 99%. It doesn't affect them. There's a great video I recently saw that was taken during the Occupy movement in New York, where the executives of Wall Street were standing on the balcony of their building taking pictures of the protesters while drinking champagne and laughing. That moment was a perfect portrayal of the noose they hold around our country's neck which at anytime given time, can be let go. I think in some ways we should thank the corporations for the air we breathe. This country is built on corporations. It's the engine that keeps us running.

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  4. Dainny Ordonez

    Although the protesters are protesting for what they believe in they also have to realize Wall Street is not the main culprit and neither are these big corporations. Like the picture above shows, these people are protesting against the corporations they own merchandise from. Yes there is a great deal or greed and unfairness but they cannot blame the corporations completely. What about the consumers?
    It's all a cycle and someone always has to suffer to some degree (sad, but true) and at the end of the day, those who are not affected don't care.

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  5. If the 99% wants to be effective.
    They should stop protesting, and take the money they own from the banks.
    Maybe... I said maybe...
    That would do something.

    But if you really want to be reliable in the eyes of government these days , do what they do... Rob them!! Don't worry insurance has their back! But who's got yours once they rob you?

    Protesting in the US has become ineffective.
    Why? Because the banks own the streets, own your house, own your car, and even own the diamond your wearing ladies... (Ain't yours yet... ;-) )

    We The People, either have to get out of the country, and invest in foreign banks.

    We The People, need to step up and nationalize banks! ESPECIALLY BOA.
    Just thinking of them makes me want to throw up...

    This subject is so disgusting.

    Here is my theory...

    Since we live in a Financial Era of the American Economy.
    And that we all know that the CIA is behind the fall of the Maghreb gov. in North Africa.

    Check this out; Could it be that US banks are brainstorming a financial economy for these countries.

    And do what?? ROB THEM, LIKE THEY ROBBED US.

    The cool thing is that this DIRTY money will come back to pay US debt to China....

    Anybody?

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  6. YESENIA LUIS

    I strongly agree with Kai Sacco's comment. If society really wants to make a difference and change the course of the economic system, they shouldn't be outside protesting and wasting their time. It makes no sense to be protesting against companies' morals and still buying their products and supporting their increasing profit. For example, many people tend to make negative comments about Wal-Mart (to mention one) and I'm sure that the same people had at least bought one item from Wal-Mart at one point in their lives. If you are against it, DON'T buy any products from that company!! That's what is going to make a difference. Companies don't care about what you have to say, they care about your money and support. If you critize the company but still buy their products then you are doing nothing.

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  7. Christina Budhoo said:
    In my opinion, we should stay neutral on the subject. Individuals should have the right to protest outside of Wall Street in order for large corporations to curb their actions. Standing outside and just waiting for the people in Wall Street to take action first will certainly not be happening soon. What needs to be done is to have the people set a clear standard or exhibit several guidelines that corporations can take in order to become more moral. Right now there are too many protesters without a clear voice. They all want change, but are not announcing in what form or under what conditions. For example, corporations could be given guidelines outlining the amount of jobs that should be kept in America rather than sending these jobs overseas. Also, with union groups participating in the protest there should be clear guidelines on how employees will get paid and ways to improve the environmental impacts sustained by large corporations. It is clear that corporations are needed in America despite the fact that we have been denouncing so many of them. I was reading an article in the newspaper and the same protesters are using their Samsung cell phones and IPhones to post messages on their social media pages. It is ironic how the same companies that are being blamed are the same products that citizens rely on for their daily use. Despite the fact that these corporations were bailed out with the help of banks, they create jobs for the unemployed. The frustration arises when these jobs that are created are given away overseas. Most of the time, the prices at a place like Wal-Mart are more reasonable than a local supermarket because someone who is currently unemployed would be able to buy their products for less. It is frustrating for Americans to see potential jobs go to a place like China and see tuition rates for colleges in America increasing, but we also have to look at the side in favor of these corporations. The banks were able to bail out these large companies, but for problems like unemployment and hikes in tuition we have to look at a larger scale and lay out a more fundamental plan. Strict regulations should be given to these big corporations and our government should look for ways to create jobs and bring down the rising cost of tuition. Blaming corporations for their unethical ways should not become the only forefront of this movement.

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  8. Here is my personal example: in my opinion I hate how big corporations raise and kill animals in a mass form just to satisfy a consumer market. I’m really against that, I say this all the time and I try to be an example for these that doesn’t care and educate others that’s why I consume meat that has been treated with compassion. It will be sarcastic if I star protesting against animal cruelty and sit at the table with chicken breast from Tyson; from a companies which that I’m against for the cruel way to treat animals
    This is really not a good way to protest that’s my example. On the other hand these corporations such as sonny, Panasonic, Nikon has very good products and everyday products and people are not protesting for the quality for the item, they are protesting for the arrow view that CID corporate has handling and management these companies. That is the real issue here, CID are taking bad decisions that are affecting the consumers and a market that is already in crisis. I agree that if we the consumers stop buying a product and reflect on companies’ profit probably that’s when they are going to put a stop on and figure what they are doing wrong.

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  9. I personally believe protesting is a waist of time because ten out of ten times the corporations do not listen to protesters. those large corporations do not even look outside to see what is going on they just continue doing what they are doing. Above all these people are protesting against Wall Street, whether they like it or not Wall Street controls our economy. Something happens to Wall Street and we all go down. Plus everyone in Wall Street is way to busy to pay any attention to the people yelling outside. If people really want to go against a corporation and what that corporation stands for they should simply start by not purchasing from the company. Yelling outside their buildings aren't going to make them change anything. They are business people, you can not come at them yelling and demanding change. To get their attention the protesters need to create an organized comity and find a way to have a meeting with the corporations. Another thing the protesters must understand is, you can complain all you want but if you buy their products then their still happy. Now if you decrease their profits than maybe they'll listen.

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  10. It is sad to say but whether we protest or not for the most part will not change the minds of these big corporations. They have gotten away all this time with making massive amounts of profits being non moral. Why would they stop? Why are they going to change their ways? Because there are a couple thousand people standing outside with signs? I don’t think so.

    Like we discussed in class the most effective way to do this would be to simply stop buying from these companies. I know its difficult because its hard to resist Wal-Mart’s great low prices, but it can be as simple as telling a friend or family member about what is going on. Have you thought maybe they don’t know what’s going on? Or what the cause is? Tell them; spread the word, it doesn’t hurt to do that. Perhaps you tell them and they stop buying from Wal-Mart and this can start a ripple effect.

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  11. Mileyka Camac
    More and more people are beginning to understand how destructive corporations are to the health and safety of the human race.
    Every corporation exists for one reason and one reason only is to make money. A corporation has no other purpose, and whether or not the methods the corporation employs to make money are humane is of no concern. In order to make money, a corporation will lie, cheat, steal, etc. It will pollute the air we breathe and even the water we drink.
    A corporation may have a brain, but most certainly it has no heart. If the human race is going to continue to survive on this planet, corporations are going to have to be seriously changed.
    Mileyka Camac

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  12. Raquel M
    I think that the people should protest for what they want from these corporations. They should find others ways to get the corporations to give them what they want instead of just walking around waving signs etc. I think that In order for corporations to understand where their employees are coming from; they need to show them in a more impressive way. But I don’t think this will happen no time soon. Because these corporations are too busy collecting its profits that they don’t care for their employees.
    The last thing on their minds is whether their employees are receiving the benefits that they signed up for to help their family. I also think that if these people had the power to say what they feel and want from the corporation’s things would be different. However, if the people continue to buy from corporations they are giving them the power to continue what they’ve been doing which is being hungry for money and not caring about their employee which is unfair. Last if they continue to give in to the corporations products then they are not doing what they set out to do; which was protest for better benefits and pay etc.

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  13. Though I believe protesting is one of the only things left for the people to do so corporations take action, I also believe the protest are disorganized and voices get lost in the mess.

    The fact that people use the corporation's products every day, doesn't mean they, the corporations, have the right to take advantage of us the way they do. Sadly, the people on top could care less about those who work for them as long as they are making money.

    The way the economy is now a days is really affecting us in a bad way, something needs to be done, but no one is listening.

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  14. Many individuals may argue that we are being hypocritical because we’re protesting against corporations but yet we’re wearing their products. But it really isn’t about getting rid of corporations or necessarily being against their products. It’s about how corporation go about conducting their business and destroying our communities and taking advantage of their employee’s is what I believe the protest consist of. So I don’t think we need to thank corporations for the air we breathe so to speak because we’re not against their products we’re against how they go about business. We realize that these corporations are capable of really contributing to our country’s progress if their actions are done morally and if they take responsibilities for their actions.

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  15. Should we thank corporations for the air we breathe? First we have to think what corporations have done for us and if what they have done was good at at. To begin with, many corporations are working their employees time after time, yet the pay they receive is not even enough to pay their mortgages and other bills. In a recession like this we should be able fo have prices we can affford, so we can not only provide for ourselves, but also our families. Even though corporations provide us with many products that we use in our daily lives. The question is it morally right for businesses to work their employes hours that are over board and giving employees insurance that are non affordable insurance given by the company. Whether we protest or not companies will still continue to come into our communities and closing families that has been in business since years ago. We have to really think about it and plan out exactly what we want to do or they will just look at it as another protest.

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  16. the communistic abusive corporations should be shut down. America should petition them away!

    How can we band together to get rid of the giant? And would you participate in such a campaign if it could be started?


    I hate the discouragement of unions, their treatment of their employees in general. I hate seeing local business go under because they can't compete. I'd love to see them gone, but I seriously doubt it'll happen, getting rid of Wal-Mart is a matter of will-power and economics. The economics alone might be insurmountable m1if somebody makes material goods affordable in a materialistic culture, that somebody's just plain gonna rake it in). In my opinion, the will-power makes it nearly impossible. Few among us - too few - have the will-power to deny ourselves in the short term for the long term good.
    The only way to stop Wal-Mart from abusing its workers is to become a responsible consumer. Americans must realize that slightly cheaper merchandise and slightly discounted drugs come at a grave cost - the well-being of the store's employees - that far outweighs the savings. Wal-Mart's recent campaign to cut labor costs even more, reducing them from appallingly low levels to nauseatingly low levels, exhibits a profound disrespect for the American worker. By financially supporting an enterprise that does this, Americans are disrespecting themselves (and, in particular, the working class). Accordingly, Americans should abstain from shopping at Wal-Mart until the company can produce tangible evidence that it is treating its workers better, it is up to us to make a change.

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  17. Kathryn Merlino said...


    I agree with majority of the class. I believe that Occupy Miami is not being productive. I think that by protesting against corporations but still supporting them is being hypocritical. Maybe the protest would have a larger impact if the protestors would actually support the cause they are fighting for. In the above picture it shows all these protestors with products by the companies they are disagreeing with. I think that they are just prolonging this protest and I think that the corporations will never take them serious.

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  18. I agree with majority of the class. I believe that Occupy Miami is not being productive. I think that by protesting against corporations but still supporting them is being hypocritical. Maybe the protest would have a larger impact if the protestors would actually support the cause they are fighting for. In the above picture it shows all these protestors with products by the companies they are disagreeing with. I think that they are just prolonging this protest and I think that the corporations will never take them serious. I don't believe that in today's society and with the economy the way it is anything productive will get done. Unfortunately what effects the companies and corporations is when they start to lose money, The only way they will loose money is when people stop buying from them.

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  19. Marcus Sussman

    Well you have to realize that most people are hypocritical. Using Walmart as an example, the majority of us do not support how they treat their employees, yet we still shop there due to their unbeatable low prices. Each and everyone of us has complaints against a particular product or corporation, yet we do nothing about it. It never hurts to wrote a corporation to explain your disgust towards a company or about a product.

    And Yuliet, I agree 100% with your comment.

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  20. Let’s think about loyalty and good faith. Our ignorance has led us to criticize the very services we have put up on a pedestal. If from the beginning we had kept loyal service to those mom and pop shops that we now long for instead of chasing a bargain from competitors like “Wal-Mart” then we would not need to be “occupying” anything.

    Aside from the fact that the mess we have made can’t be cleaned up by just pitching tents outside a downtown metro rail station. It must have been easy to buy into the low prices and incredible deals (pun intended) when companies like Walmart originally laid them out, but now we are struggling to come together in taking down a best that we helped create, but has grown beyond our control. It’s like a classic cinema example of “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out” except this is not a movie dramatization and the reason for our insecurities comes not from fiction, but from the harsh truth that we CANNOT take it out of our lives so easily, and from knowing deep down inside that it is our faults to begin with that we are in this predicament, and protesting against them is protesting against ourselves, hypocrisy at it’s purest and most humble form.

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  21. Christopher Makki, you might just be right! After all our government is usually cooking something up and it usually isn’t the tastiest of meals. Aside from my opinion, however, on the morals or lack of morals that this country holds, I find it ridiculous that people are still counting on such mediocre methods of acting upon serious matters, I mean striking and protesting? Really? Yeah right, and I still get my way around the household by giving my mother the silent treatment.

    My point is that affirmative action has been proven to be the most effective way to get what you want and take what you deserve. I guess the decision to camp out under the nice warm Miami sun seems as refreshing and practical as it did to make that first purchase at Wal-Mart. If people really want to see a change in the corporate world then we have to stop consuming and purchasing their products, it is that simple. Cut the demand and there will be no need for Wal-Mart’s supply, that is, if it isn’t too late and YOUR local mom and pop stores have not already been obliterated by Wal-Mart’s “better” business. We really dug ourselves into this hole and it will take a LOT more thank picket signs and fancy writing on tents to shovel our way out.

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  22. Is ironic how people protest against big corporations and be consumers of the same companies they are against. But, it is also almost impossible not to have ever used,wore, bought products of a well-known brand. However, being part of the society makes us consumers and participants of their profits but it doesn't necessarily imply that we agree with the exploitation of workers here in the US and outside. People need to satisfy their needs and unfortunately there is no alternative in the market that we can be participants of even if there is people would rather buy from the world wide known brand. It becomes a vicious circle, we need their products as well as they need us as buyers.
    We can not reverse time as we can not live a simpler life, because many things had to happen in order to be where we are right and live the life we are living, it might not be exactly the way we would want it to be but the power and ambition has driven as to this point.
    Our society is very materialist, ruled by the enormous power of companies and dependents of the wall street. We worry about what is new in the market, we are at the top of every latest fad. People protest for the immortality and unfairness of these big corporations, however, they are not the only ones to blame, we too need to look back and examine ourselves to increase the quality of living among us.

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  23. Kimberly Ponce said...

    Corporations don't care if you're struggling in your everyday life. They just lure you into buying their products from the fancy commercials that they produce. They know that the more appealing the product is the more the consumer would want to try it out. Then again, we are also to blame in this WALL STREET WORLD. Why do we buy the products in the first place? Can't we just buy the cheaper versions of a product? That's the thing. We seem to be lured into buying the products, because they look so nice and good. We're hurting ourselves because later we seem to be complaining about the same things that we buy. Yes we can protest, but what will that get us? The corporations wont really pay any attention to you. All they would do is turn their backs and laugh at you. There is no use to fight with them. Either way in the end they'll end up winning.

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  24. I support the protesting because it shows a national awareness of what's going on in our country. hopefully the protesting will lead us down a more productive path to a future where there isnt such a large margin between the growing income of the 1% and the virtually stagnant earnings of the majority.

    Studies indicate that the income of the 1% has nearly trippled over the past 30 years. a financially secure nation is one where there is balance. This wage gap is substantially imbalanced and unfortunately the ones with the power to change it are part of the 1 percent

    the politicians with the power to make the needed changes are biased because they make up part of the 1 percent, this is understandable based on how greedy people are. If you're part of the 1%, you'll survive increased taxes.

    Some argue that the occupy protests are in vain and foolish. it definitely raises awareness but is it really effective? i dont see why it wouldnt be. Anerica is a democracy, and even amendments can be changed with the support of 50% plus one. which should be easy since were 90%.

    it may seem hypocritical that the protesters own the merchendise of the very same corporations they are fighting, but its difficult not to. these corporations are among the most successful, which is the reason people are against them. when you neglect the concept of morality, its easy to justify corporate behavior in a free market. competition is a fundemental part of advancement

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  25. If people want to protest they are going to regardless. Whether it makes a difference in the society who knows. Some say it is a waste of time but maybe it could make a difference. Regardless of people protesting against these huge corporations they are still going to be up and running. They are going to have consumers buying their "cheap" products even if you are against them. For example everyone discussing the whole issue with Wal-Mart and how it is rising over other corporations such as K-Mart but people still go there and buy their products. No matter how much people protest it is all a circle. There is always going to be a large corporation who will be paying low wages and offering hardly any benefits just to provide a low cost to their consumers. Society will continue to chase after what is cheapest. Continuing to protest and cause more trouble on the streets seems pointless to me but will continue to happen. Hopefully one day all these protests will be worth it.

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  26. My perception of what Hindertaker is attempting to do is justify Corporations and their crossing the line in concern to their position in this society. Just because we are consumers of said corporations does not mean it is justifiable what they are doing. Like I said in an earlier post, WE are giving THEM the power! Ridiculous I say!What OccupyMiami is doing is the same concept we should apply to these Corporations!Hell,we the people should all start an uproar really! A friend of mine was actually commenting on an facebook status of mine justifying corporations and their actions. He said,and I paraphrase,"Sure some things are not right but thanks to corporations you(as in me) go to school,use a cellphone,have the clothes on back".. etc. You can imagine how this impacted me! One good deed does not justify a thousand misdeeds.

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  27. I personally am not for or against this occupy wallstreet. But I do feel that these corporations could care less about the protesters in the streets. The protesters need to realize that it's not wallstreet's fault, just as Professor Triff said "Wallstreet is an instrument", it's not for or against these corporations, and it could be used in favor of either side.

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  28. I don't see anything wrong with protesting which is what occupy Miami is doing.What I don't understand is the purpose of them protesting for weeks and corporations are not affected by the protest.The reason for this is because many companies are focused on their profits and not on how they are treating their employees unfairly. For instance, many employees that work for Walmart are not full time, but part time and the reason for this is because Walmart don't want to provide their employees benefits that they would have receives if they were full time workers. In this situation I understand why many people protest against corporations such as Walmart because of their they are unfair, but they are closing stores around them.Protesting is one way of grabbing the corporation, but the most effective way of getting corporations attention is by encouraging other people to don't buy at a particular store such as Walmart and by your action the corporation should have your attention someones.
    Another topic that was discuss in the article was wages.One thing I don't like about certain people around the world is not paying people the amount they should be paid. I feel as if people just care for themselves and that's it. For instance, paying people less money than they should be paid is not right and in realization you are taking advantage by paying them less money or not paying them at all.

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  29. Karla Huari

    I am neither for nor against the occupy movements. For a long time people have been against corporations but as the above pictures illustrates, the same people agaisnt these corporations support them by wearing and using their products. There is no way to avoid products made by the big corporations, there are just too many and they are the most available on the market. It is true that some businesses take advantage of their employees by exploiting as many loopholes as they can to pay workers less and offer them less benefits. Not only have these corporations taken over the market but they have also taken over the government. The corporations make sure to endorse politicians who support bills and laws that will benefit their business. There is no doubt that these practices have to be stopped, whether these occupy movements are the way to do it, is something we have yet to find out.

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  30. I'm not against the occupy wall street movement I just find it hard to believe that a bunch of jobless children find the spend their time protesting something they have no role in. After considering the people that have to work for well being and that if the families they support then I would be able to support such a group.

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  31. I am not anti-Occupy Miami, but I am also not pro-Occupy Miami. I personally don’t understand what the fuss is truly about They are out there protesting in Gap Jeans, Old Navy T-shirts, Nike sneakers, and under wear that they most likely purchased at Wal-Mart. Believe it or not, where would we be without these corporations? I’m not saying that we have to thank the side walk every time we walk on it, but these corporations, in a way make up America. We really shouldn’t be trying to tear down these corporations, but let them know that they are abusing capitalism. That’s what the protest should really be about. From a business perspective I can understand that owners are doing what’s best for the company, but from a human, employee, and consumer’s perspective, one shouldn’t greedy. These companies have to understand that we rely on them and that we are loyal to them, so regardless they will generate mass income. Meaning that paying their employees more and being loyal to them won’t hurt. In fact, I believe that greed is to blame for our economic crisis. Everyone seems to be egoists in a situation where they should be utilitarian. I don’t think much will be accomplished by the protest because the purpose doesn’t match the true problem.

    Jessica Jean-Baptiste

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  32. How ironic it looks to buy products made by the same corporations we protest against. See, the problem is we can’t say we are going stop wearing their fancy shoes, but then we are lying to ourselves because they are the ones that dominate the market world. The protest should be about how these corporations are abusing the capitalism system. Those corporations are somehow supported by the government because they can’t stop them in what they are doing to customers and employees. One shouldn’t be greedy by any means because the capitalism is about to make profit by taking advantage of people. Regardless, how hard people try to protest against them, I don’t see how they are going to stop them. Finally, we’re not against their products but how they conduct the business.

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