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Occupy Politics! Pt 1
By David NgCorporation volunteer, D.B., from Civitavecchia, Italy, discusses how corporate hegemony could be affecting the democratic process. Should we be thinking about whether corporations are occupying too much political power? How can we occupy our citizenship?
Just as the church separated from the state centuries ago, we need to realize that the state needs to be accountable to its citizens – and not to corporations. We need to challenge our governments to make sure that those in power – including corporations – are accountable to the people!
One of the major corporations that has a large influence where I live and in the surrounding region is ENEL S.P.A. This is a multinational energy producing company that has branches all over the globe. Locally, they operate together as Tirreno Power S.P.A., where many people who live in Civitavecchia rely upon for work. ENEL has been important for a few generations because it has been an important provider of employment, however, their increasing influence in political power is something to be skeptical about.
Recently, Alessio De Sio, the former mayor of Forza Italia, was investigated for corruption for allegedly exchanging money for business decisions in favor of ENEL. The former mayor has also been advocating for “coal-coke” production in the area, “Coal Coke” is a manmade byproduct of coal that can be used for fuel – however, the process to make the “coke” is incredibly damaging to the environment. The excess fumes have also caused tumors and asthma, which I personally experience in my city.
De Sio is of course just one example of politicians who compromise democratic political processes for money and economic power. We can only assume that ENEL has had considerable amount of political pressure on the government as well. ENEL and its influences on the government are prime examples of why we need to keep the state and corporations separate. We cannot let corporations control the political process because it not only damages the environment, it compromises our citizenship by favoring corporations over people.
Edited by Jennifer Slattery
Tag(s): Activism & Protests, Environment, Corporate Personhood, Climate Change
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Comments(3)
On July 22, 2012 at 09:49 PM Lizzy wrote:Yes, I agree with you .any Revolution' without mioitnneng about the FED will not change anything. Even more, it may give them even more power and centralize the power further. That is always the main issue' with Revolutions that it can also be hijacked and used still by the super-elite to further their control while allowing few non-important, mid-low level institutions/people to get all the blame. We need to watch this movement very carefully and strongly oppose any revolution' that doesn't include major changes with our private Federal' Reserve Bank. You will know the movement has been hijacked if there is no mioitnneng of the FED anywhere. That's how you know the movement will be a French Revolution rather than an American one. Thanks for your comments.
On July 24, 2012 at 06:40 PM Abah wrote:
Now I wish I was over there. I saw a vid of some protestor hodnlig an iPad into the faces of LEOs. I could seize that iPad for the greater good and redistribution. I am after all working for the ministry of the interior, so I need it. He's a bum, he doesn't need it.
On December 17, 2012 at 10:46 AM Raj wrote:
You haven't worked in cube world i see. The whole otoarpien is designed so that the people at the top make the big bucks while your salary remains frozen (if you're lucky i've witnessed many examples of a corporation firing everyone in a certain job classification, re-naming the same work and advertising it at a lower rate that the former employees are welcome to apply for); if you don't know the story of Arthur Anderson check it out (accounting fraud); basically, you are made to do what they tell you, even if it's illegal, shut up about it and mind your business or you get replaced. This also happens DAILY in the medical profession in large hospitals. From HR (the worst people on the planet stooges for the corporate sector) to accounting, to (especially) the psychopathic bosses you have no use to them other than to work toward their wealth gathering and if you make too much money, they find a way to get rid of you.
