Humanity is in trouble and most people are unaware. The sociopolitical order is changing, precipitating an erosion of human rights and democratic institutions. The reason is Mega-Corporate Imperialism (MCI), an expanding network of economic powerhouses causing detrimental shifts in the social fabric worldwide. Nation-states have become the enablers of a widening system of corporate dynasties from banking to high tech. These “too big to fail” conglomerates or mega-corporate entities (MCEs) now exert a profound influence on human activities and thought, with the power to control human experience in ways unimaginable a century ago.
The net result today is an appalling disparity in the distribution of wealth, an ominous attrition of rights and privacy, and a brainwashed populace driven to mindless consumerism and ecologically extravagant lifestyles. While one in seven humans lives in abject squalor, the rest of us, who don’t qualify for obscenely wealthy elite status, live under the coercive spell of a carefully designed paradigm of imperialistic technocracy. Armed with the latest and greatest gadgetry, tech MCEs impel us to sacrifice our privacy for the privilege of communicating through their devices and services. They exploit our personal data, monitor our purchases and internet clicks, and track our locations. In an instant, we can become targets of unrelenting advertising, exploiting our basic needs.
Likewise, other MCEs persuasively steer our food, transportation, medical, energy, and lifestyle choices—a psychological warfare on consumers only MCEs can afford. Here in the U.S., personal debt soars under the constant barrage from Big Ag, Big Auto, Big Banks, Big Pharm, Big Everything, including the self-aggrandizing firms on Wall Street. Capitalism has run amok under MCE’s reckless pursuit of power and riches.
How did this happen? In the U.S. in the late 19th century, corporate lawyers commandeered the 14th Amendment—ratified to protect the rights of former slaves. These barristers convinced intellectually challenged Supreme Courts to grant corporations the special status of individuals. The high court decisions helped elevate the rights of corporations above the common good—contrary to our founder’s words in the Constitution’s Preamble to “Promote the General Welfare.” Corporate charters focus on serving shareholders, elevating corporate objectives over “We the People.” Thus, in the early days of the Industrial Revolution, many corporations willfully placed profits above worker welfare and the environment—and even national interest. Other nations granted their and U.S. corporations similar latitude. Corporations and banks have been steamrolling over the political agenda ever since.
Fueled by the Cold War, globalization expanded. In 2014, approximately 37% of the world’s 100 largest economies belonged to banks and mega-corporations. Wealth continues to become increasingly concentrated in fewer groups and individuals, limiting governmental influence on world affairs. But of greater concern are the affects the MCEs are having on human behavior.
Whether one lives in the slums of the poorest nations or the suburban enclaves of the richest, MCI is dictating the routines of life through macro- and micro-influences. MCEs sway policies to limit the advance of the poor and destitute while reinforcing the position of the wealthy. MCEs provide us a major portion of the necessities of life, effectively creating an addictive dependency on their goods and services. Under the guise of entertainment, they fill our time with diversions and similarly distract our thoughts with mind-numbing communications. With few options, we contentedly participate and accept the paradigm of life engineered for us under MCI.
While science and technology have gone a long way to rid humanity of disease and tedium—advancing our understanding of ourselves, all species, and the universe, MCEs have leveraged such knowledge to control social, economic, and political outcomes. Our elected and appointed officials have abandoned many of the fundamental tenets of our Constitution by allowing MCEs to dominate our daily lives. Big Brother is not Big Government, but government-enabled MCI.
There is no conspiracy behind MCI. MCI has progressively evolved from the ceaseless power struggles humans have endured since tribes banded together to control the resources available. History tells us that imperialism results in winners and losers, where the few benefit at the expense of the many. MCI is doing the same. Our only recourse is to reinvigorate the precepts of the U.S. Constitution and reverse 14th Amendment interpretations, establish and enforce tough privacy laws, broaden and fortify the scope of basic human rights, and regulate the extent MCEs influence the social, political, and economic necessities and routines of life. If we fail to do so, freedom and democracy will forever remain illusory.
