Is big business under attack?

Many large businesses seem to be almost more powerful than some governments. Its a worrying trend nowadays. 'Globalisation' was seen as something hairy hippies ought to protest about but to be honest we should all be concerned about just how much power they have at the moment.

Everything seems to be viewed by its monetary worth rather than its benefit to ordinary people.

Many multinationals are, not just "seem to be almost" - more powerful than some governments. Fundamentally these huge corporations are not ethically or socially answerable to anyone as their own legal obligation is to their financial well-being of their shareholders. From massively damaging and improperly treated oil and other chemical spills to polluting or diverting local water supplies. There is also a long and ignominious association between unscrupulous companies and corrupt governments - just remember the sad and bloody saga of Nigerian oil production.

Eloethan I share your concern about TTIP, but even people I think of as being fairly clued up are mostly unaware of it. I shudder to think of the implications.

I would also worry more about the power of the big businesses Eloethan. I imagine the further to the right members of the conservative party are the closer you get to even one constraint on how your business behaves becomes one too many.

Big businesses already rule the world. They've just managed to keep it a secret from most people up to now.

Just look at the big corporations like Amazon,Google,Starbucks,Boots etc. they dictate how much tax they want to pay, (which seems to bear no resemblance to what they actually owe) by coming to an "arrangement" with the tax man. If a small business tried this they would be either accused of attempted bribery and/or put out of business. Of course they run the country.

Big business should be under attack. The latest statistics on pay show this.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/10/13/never-in-the-history-of-humankind-have-so-many-suffered-so-much-for-the-greed-of-a-few/

Shocking durhamjen. To summarise the blog for those who don't read links:

Over the past year FTSE 100 directors' pay went up by 21%.

The CEOs of some of Britain's biggest companies earn 120 times more than the average full-time salary, compared to 47 times more in 2000.

Over the last seven years, there has been an 8% drop in real earnings. This cost-cutting has triggered increased bonuses for directors. Because low wages are topped up by the state, such bonus increases are in effect paid by the taxpayer.

I think I said on another thread that imo governments do not run the world, that big business does.
Governments just tinker around the edges.

Don't want the government to run the world, just this country. But I want them to run the country for all of us, not just their friends at the top of the foodchain.

Thanks for that summary, eloethan.

It's the problem of big business in the form of globalisation that has caused the inequalities we see, and the fact that the governments of many countries kowtow to big business.
According to the CPS, the state pension fund could run out next year, because of below inflation pay rises not bringing in enough national insurance. The other thing that does not bring enough national insurance is that those who get a lot of pay do not pay the same percentage as the rest of us.
The treasury says it's just a scare story. From a right-wing think tank!

At last some good news.
The fare dodger who worked in the city has been banned from working in the city as he is not considered to be a right and proper person.

Justice for other commuters at last. The sort of big business person who should be under attack. Hopefully it might make others in the city realise that the watchdog has teeth.