Boo to mega corporations
From Common Dreams:
"The Supreme Court threw out a taxpayers' lawsuit Monday that challenged the widespread practice of states giving big tax breaks [to corporations] to lure manufacturers to build new plants within their borders. The justices did not decide whether these tax breaks unconstitutionally discriminated in favor of certain businesses. Instead, the court ruled that taxpayers did not have standing in federal court to challenge them in the first place."
So when do the people have legal standing? Certainly not in the states where nuclear testing is about to go down, as Soldier reported. And maybe that’s what’s wrong with the Constitution: not having adequate “rights” to political power. If all we can accomplish is through grassroots movements, then the going will certainly be tough.
Another word on corporations: I read an editorial about the big box stores (I won't name any names) taking over the landscape of this country. Gone are the quaint mom-and-pop establishments whose structures provide character to our hometowns. Instead all we see are homogenized superstores whose facades are monolithic: massive, undifferentiated, cold, and devoid of the personality that made towns individual in years gone by.
And what do they accomplish? The making of a country of consumers, always wanting more more MORE, quick to dispose of what they have in favor of the latest and greatest. When will we ever be satisfied? When will we stop letting the manufacturers dictate our happiness and provide our satisfaction? I know I myself am very guilty of this crime, and guilt I do feel when my conscience catches up to me. If I'm going to be spending money, it should be on something more substantial, more lasting, or at least more sentimental or with more importance than a new pair of shoes added to the hundred I already own.
I apologize if this rant is unorganized. But take it as it is: Just a rant.
"The Supreme Court threw out a taxpayers' lawsuit Monday that challenged the widespread practice of states giving big tax breaks [to corporations] to lure manufacturers to build new plants within their borders. The justices did not decide whether these tax breaks unconstitutionally discriminated in favor of certain businesses. Instead, the court ruled that taxpayers did not have standing in federal court to challenge them in the first place."
So when do the people have legal standing? Certainly not in the states where nuclear testing is about to go down, as Soldier reported. And maybe that’s what’s wrong with the Constitution: not having adequate “rights” to political power. If all we can accomplish is through grassroots movements, then the going will certainly be tough.
Another word on corporations: I read an editorial about the big box stores (I won't name any names) taking over the landscape of this country. Gone are the quaint mom-and-pop establishments whose structures provide character to our hometowns. Instead all we see are homogenized superstores whose facades are monolithic: massive, undifferentiated, cold, and devoid of the personality that made towns individual in years gone by.
And what do they accomplish? The making of a country of consumers, always wanting more more MORE, quick to dispose of what they have in favor of the latest and greatest. When will we ever be satisfied? When will we stop letting the manufacturers dictate our happiness and provide our satisfaction? I know I myself am very guilty of this crime, and guilt I do feel when my conscience catches up to me. If I'm going to be spending money, it should be on something more substantial, more lasting, or at least more sentimental or with more importance than a new pair of shoes added to the hundred I already own.
I apologize if this rant is unorganized. But take it as it is: Just a rant.
posted by Anonymous at 5/17/2006 08:45:00 AM
3 Comments:
The main thing is that with the small town charm and appeal leaving out the back door, so goes our individuality as a nation. A nation of droids devoid of thought and free thinking. Now that's a Utopia! When we all look the same, and act the same, and shop at the same stores. That's when the machine will stop. Compare it with the "Nothing" in the classic movie The Neverending Story. Swallowing all in it's wake, and leaving nothing behind. The beauty and wonder that made our country so great is slowly fading, and our voices will not be heard above the screams of those lost along the way.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I can't stand Box stores any longer. I have boycotted one, but the necessity of "cheap" food for struggling college students made us choose the lesser of two evils. I want to make more money some day so that I can pay more money to support the moms and pops of the world. I would write a comment that's longer, but I'm in the lobby of our hotel.
*Side note-Now Logan can look forward to being book-ended by Walmarts. They have a HUGE, ugly zoo going on the north end of town, and it was just ruled that the city can't stop them from building another on the south end. Goodbye quaint Logan stores.
I try not to support big stores mainly because they don't treat their employess well. The don't pay them enough and they don't pay good benefits. It's ridiculous that a store like Wal-Mart with millions of dollars in profits cant provide good affordable insurance. Some stores that are big aren't always bad. Costco for example, pays it's employees well, gives good benfits and still lets them work decent hours. Home Depot also used to be that way but has been going downhill. It isn't just about supporting mom and pop stores either. To get low prices big stores have to force manufacturers to make their products cheaper which destroys american manufacturers.
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