Winter 1996 - Issue Number 38
What's wrong with our government? "It's too big". OK, I agree. "I don't like whose running it". You got it. I can tell you this, it isn't Bill and Hillary that are running our government. It's money. It's big corporate interests. Big corporations need big government. Have I said anything new? I doubt it.
A year ago this past fall my friend, Tom Shea, gave me a copy of an article from the Nation. The article was, A Call to Citizens ... Real Populists Please Stand Up. Written by Ronnie Dugger, founding editor of the Texas Observer and writer of many sociopolitical articles over the years. I was so blown away with the article that I wrote to this group calling themselves The People's Alliance. From the results of that query (and a host of email letters later) I chose to attend the founding convention of this new group. It took place the week before Thanksgiving at a remote ranch near San Antonio, Texas. Over 200 persons attended. A name and purpose was chosen. The name is now, Alliance for A New Democracy. We worked through a purpose statement of:
The mission of the Alliance for a New Democracy is to establish a true democracy; to create a just society with a sustainable, equitable economy; and to free people from corporate domination of politics, economics, culture and information'.Of the people, for the people, and by the people (Sound familiar?).
These are scary times we presently live in, especially for the youth about to graduate and enter into the world as employed breadwinners. The marvelous book of Michael Moore's, "Downsize This", spells it out very well and with humor to make the difficult pill a bit more easily ingested. A sad example of this occurred recently with the Stride Rite Corporation. Remember those quality shoes we have been using for our children for many years? Stride Rite gave generously to social causes and became known for locating it's plants and distribution facilities in some of America's most depressed inner cities and rural communities. It provided secure and well paying jobs for minorities. This was a strong personal commitment of it's chief executive officer, Arnold Hiatt, who believed business should contribute more to community life than simply profits to its stockholders. This went well until 1984 when their profits showed the first major drop in thirteen years. A sizable one. The company directors were concerned that if they did not move their production abroad they might not survive. Hiatt fought the board of directors on this policy for as long as he could and ultimately resigned. It's U.S. workers had averaged $1,200 to $1,400 a month for wages alone, plus fringe benefits. The skilled workers in China who now make Stride Rite shoes earn $100 to $150 a month, working fifty to sixty hours a week. Stride Rite then moved it's national distribution center from Massachusetts to Louisville, Kentucky, to take advantage of lower-cost U.S. labor there and an offer of tax abatement from the state valued at $24 million over ten years. In 1986 their stock increased sixfold, making it a favorite on the New York stock exchange and particularly with the socially conscious investors who continued to be impressed by the company's corporate giving.
This is one form of corporate entitlements. Many of my well intended conservative friends are upset about the government entitlements that go to social programs and welfare, especially that to unwed mothers and their babies. It is a lot at almost $1.1 billion each year. Did you know that corporate entitlements in the form of low or no income tax and free tax exempts for locating of plants is over eight times the amounts paid to welfare and social services?
How about another one? Nike footwear employs 8,000 people in management, design, sales, and promotion. It leaves the production in the hands of some 75,000 workers hired by independent contractors. Most of these workers are in Indonesia, where a pair of Nikes that sells in the U.S. or Europe for $75 to $135 is produced for about $5.60 by girls and young women working for as little as fifteen cents an hour. It was reported that Michael Jordan was paid $20 million in 1992 for promoting Nike shoes and that is more than the entire payroll of the factories that made them.
The Forbes 1993 directory of the world's wealthiest people listed eighty-eight billionaires (stop...that's a billion) from the low and middle income countries. Mexico headed the list with twenty-four billionaires. NAFTA has been good to a few in Mexico and a host of corporations in the U.S., but who pays the bill?.
We do!
NAFTA has enabled the U.S. corporations to utilize labor in a Mexico maquiladora at gross labor costs of $1.15 to $1.50 per hour. This compared to the former labor costs in our countries manufacturing plants amounts to a saving of $10,000 to $17,000 per employee displaced. That makes for significant stock market values for corporate stock holders. Those on the inside trading group make millions.
We must now face the fact that our government is directly involved in these massive corporate interest policies. Who pays the big monies that it takes to get elected to office today? Corporations and big moneyed interests pay in the form of soft monies and PAC's. The deregulation programs of the Reagan 80's and the fact that corporations are now given the same full rights of an individual under our constitution has given power to the moneyed that now is so great it corrupts.
For some time now our country has held China to task for the human rights abuses they have used against their people. This especially since the Tiananmen Square uprising of the people. Since our Presidential election our re-elected president has returned from a 'good will' tour of China. Nothing has been recorded regarding any comments by President Clinton of these human rights abuses...only the opening of trade and the resulting tariff agreements. Where is our governmental soul?
At this moment, as I am writing this, I realize that I am getting angry. Maybe that's where we should begin to look at our issues of dehumanization today.
Today, December 7, 1996 I am also reminded that just 55 years ago was the beginning of our full involvement in World War II with Pearl Harbor. We felt so justified in this fight against evil. At the conclusion a new power began amongst the rubble. The rebuilding took on the great project of bringing to the people of the world the ability to buy and live with luxuries that had not been known. And with this came the rise of moneyed interests and the corporations that provide it. At least to a few. You, the reader, can complete this. We have as yet to know peace. The economy of the U.S. continues to be built on weapons of destruction&emdash; which remains as the sole leader in our budgeted expenses.(...back to the excitement of the convention of the Alliance for a New Democracy.)
The thoughts that were spoken gave reality to the idea that we can build toward a new democracy. As Margaret Mead said:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
We listened to exciting speakers, such as Howard Zinn and David Korten, that gave new hope for the change that will certainly come. We were entertained by the likes of Molly Ivans and Jim Hightower&emdash; with their caustic wit and deep insights into the sick areas of our system. (And, today, to realize that on the best-seller list of books is our friend Michael Moore and his Downsize This, regardless of how Borders has downsized the amount of books on display). There are many like ourselves that know where the problem is. Our task now is to ally with the many groups and citizens across this country and our own locality to be able to speak out and to gain insights into the reality of the problem. This means educating each other. The intent of the Alliance is to do just that...ally with all those that know where the problems lie and to begin to form the mass movement that is rising from dormancy now.
I remember my time spent speaking with Molly Ivans about what we could be doing back here in Northern Michigan. She reminded me to "keep raising hell and don't forget that as you organize to have a fun committee". Since my return I have been quite high. I realize that I will probably not be around to see the change that is taking place right now, but what a good feeling and 'fun' it is to know that I am in on the birthing process.
I am able to meet and/or speak with groups large or small to talk about these new beginnings. I have copies of the original article by Ronnie Dugger as well as an excellent article by David Korten.
Return to the Index of Synapse 38, Winter 1996