Is the problem then with the "positions of power" themselves? The opportunity for power over others tends to attract certain personality types - those who truly wish to serve the community in the best interests of the public, and those who pursue power for it's own sake, to further their own self-interests.

Unfortunately, it appears that it's mostly the latter type who've been in the "driver's seat" politically for quite a while now. And it is also the latter type who are the most successful in the corporate world. The wealthiest corporations on the planet are usually those with the worst environmental and human rights records ie. Coca-Cola, Nike, Dow Chemical.

Forum Lurker said "The only way to combat multinational corporations is within national and international politics. Corporations have no method of oversight that can be directly managed by the people; only government has that ability. Even if the multinats are the real enemy, we have to work through government to affect them."

The problem with trying to affect the multinats through gov't is that generally it is the multinats and other wealthy corporations who provide the bulk of the funding for the political parties that compromise the gov't. Gov'ts are not too likely to bite the hand that feeds them! Another point to ponder is that historically it is the wealthy corporations who create the governments and write the laws in the first place - not to serve the public but their own monetary interests. Trying to affect them through gov't is then akin to trying to get them to arrest themselves, or beat themselves up using their own right arm - not a very likely scenario.

To boycott the major corporate tyrants would be one way to hit them in the only place they really care about - in the wallet! - without having to deal with gov't institutions. A complete list of the major offenders would certainly help, but one good place to start might be Coca-Cola. Read it and weep ... and think about it next time you have a craving for the "real thing", or any of it's "family". Surely, giving up junk food and drink for would be better for everyone's health anyway!

Corporations depend on consumer spending - and that may be the only trump card in the hands of "regular folks" like ourselves.

daylia