Corporations, Movie Quotes, and Bannanas

Did you know that there is a science of exploitation?

I got to watch a few bits of "The Corporation" tonight. Every time that I watch that film I get a little more angry. It frustrates me not that there are people out there that want to make money and own things; I can understand that.

What frustrates me is that we've created this ideal "American Dream" and its come to the point where the dream is beginning to own us.

I like when we watch movies like "The Matrix" or "I Robot" or even that episode of The Simpsons where their house tries to kill the whole family. It's been a classic question ever since we created the computer: how long before they rise against us and try to kill us? How long before our own creation turns against us?

What are the chances that it is already too late, and we just don't know it?

I'm not saying that your TV is going to pick up a knife and slit your throat, and I highly doubt that your clock radio purposefully "forgets" to go off at 8:30AM, though the possibility is not out of the question. I sincerely do not believe that we will one day have to EMP the entirity of the earth (if we still have control of the EMP, that is) just to rescue the human race from an onslaught of PCs (lets face it. Mac's are too cute to be evil).

A corporation is not a human being. A corporation is a legal structure. You cannot kill a corporation; just the people that own, operate, and are affected by them. A corporation is legally obligated to place the financial interests of their owners above competing interests - even over public good. A corporation cannot make an ethical or moral decision. It is not human. A corporation cannot kill itself; it has a responsibility to the stock holders.

We, as humankind, have already begun our own destruction. We have created a monstrosity that is destroying the earth, increasing poverty, decreasing healthcare, privatizing water, denying human rights, exploiting women, children, and the oppressed, and it has no way of stopping itself.

But hey, it's alright.

We have a solution.

Buy local produce. That'll show 'em.