The Corporation

Though The Corporation expresses a biased position, the documentary, made some very essential, indisputable points that we need to consider. The most important point that the film makes is the negative effects that have stemmed from the abuse of the fourteenth amendment. Once corporations were able to take on the identity of an individual, our government lost any ability to control and direct the missions of the businesses. The assumed the rights of “a legal person,” and thus were able to buy, sell, trade and act in the same way you and I are able to.

I think another important part of the film addressed the confidence crisis America is facing with large businesses. Because corporations seem to have no limits and no controls, they are growing to into the most powerful facet of our nation. If their power remains unchecked, we will certainly have to face the end of our resources, as the current models are hardly sustainable.

A majority of the CEO’s featured in the film seemed to be very aware of the problems that this unchecked power can lead to. However, some of the business owners (Firestone) alluded to the idea that they have become so powerful that one individual cannot control the means of the business, even if he or she felt obliged to.

The CEO’s tend to convince the audience that their personal values are similar to the values of the average American. Many of them seem to stress the notion that the “morals” of the business are not consistent with their own “morals.” They put the blame on capitalism… it is the mode of free enterprise that drives these corporations to their current status. I would agree with this concept, but I would also argue that these business owners are not concerned with the detrimental results. Instead, they appreciate the fact that they have some other entity to place the blame with, rather than dealing with it themselves.

In this way, large corporations are able to justify the “externalities.” They are simply the third party, the collateral damage. Capitalism is the guilty one, and they maintain a free conscience. This allows them to relieve the burdens of a suffering economy, a dying environment, and a loss of natural resources. “It’s all in the name of business.”

Many of the issues discussed in the film remind me of the notions that Henry Thoreau brought up in “Resistance to Civil Government.” He states, “It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.” According to this statement, it seems that the causes of these monstrous corporations are directly related to the immoral business owners.

I think the film had a powerful message, but people must remain in constant check in order to observe the “privileged positions” the film represents. We must always be critical of the purposes and motives of any medium, and documentaries especially. However, that said, I think The Corporation offered a very important position that Americans must consider.