Multinational corporations are a danger to democracy

Multinational corporations are a danger to democracy
EDITOR:
Does Democracy need to be redefined in view of globalization and the rising power of multinational corporations over many aspects of our lives including our government? Globalization started when the United States, emerging as an industrial superpower after World War II, sought to open world markets for its many consumer goods and to promote free market system values. The system provides for the free flow of capital goods and services unfettered by government intervention. This tends to give precedence to capital and economic freedom over the rights of people, democratic governance and the well-being of the environment.
Globalization also sends many of our jobs overseas which contributes to our unemployment. All this started well before President Bush came to office, but being a corporation man and being put in office by corporation money, he is naturally promoting corporation interests. Energy policies are being dictated by corporate preferences, and prescription medicine policies are designed to protect the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. It isn't just the president. Corporate influence effects both political parties and both houses of Congress.
Before we try to export capitalist democracy to the Muslim countries of the Middle East should we not put our own democracy in order? First of all we need to control the big money that is corrupting our electoral system. But beyond this, there is a need for systemic change. The outdated electoral college prevents a national election for president. Instead we have fifty state elections. We have red states and blue states where the outcome is assumed and the people in these states are basically disenfranchised. So the battle is fought in the relatively few undecided states, which are inundated with propaganda designed to confuse the voters. Unfortunately the system discourages people of integrity from seeking public office.
Corporations that are free from government regulation achieve a power that corrupts, as is evidenced by the growing number of corporate scandals. There used to be anti-trust laws that limited the power of corporations to gobble up smaller companies or put competitors out of business. If they are still on the books they are largely disregarded. Fortunately there seems to be a growing public awareness that uncontrolled corporations pose a danger to our democracy. And we are more than consumers. We are citizens, and we have representatives in Washington and we have the ballot. Let's do something to save our democracy.
PAUL GAMBLE, ANNA MARY GAMBLE
New Wilmington
'Arts Come Alive' was a hit; Playhouse is alive and well
EDITOR:
Thank you for the article "Arts Come Alive" in last Monday's edition of your paper. The Sis Soller production at the playhouse the previous Saturday evening was absolutely superb. To see on stage the beautiful works of art and then to have each one come alive with our great local talent was unbelievable.
I learned more about our great artists of history in one evening, than I had ever known. Sis Soller and all who contributed are to be commended for such a magnificent show of art. The Playhouse is alive and well again.
LOUIS M. YOUNG
Youngstown