The global economy is expanding extremely quickly, and regardless of how competitive the global market may be, both emerging and developed nations are eager to get their products on it. In a broad sense, companies are only established to make money, forcing them to operate in a coercive manner (Anaf et al.). A product’s potential impact on the population, including the labor force, is not prioritized in the quest to create money through companies (Bartley). As a result of many factors, businesses now have greater clout and are, therefore, better able to influence politics. The documentary “The Corporation” shows how business and product sales are personified, and it paints the corporation as a sociopathic creature that would eventually hurt the global population through its business module. In addition, the business is not liable for any injury to consumers that may be linked to the manufacturing method or product source (The Corporation). Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott are the producers of the documentary. It piques interest in conversations about capitalism and the function of companies in our lives.
Corporations can be held responsible for their deeds in a number of ways. First, businesses must address internal oppression rather than only damage from the outside. Laws should be passed to control the corporation’s operations in cases where corporate acts are harmful to public health, the environment, and public access to information (Bartley). Everyone involved in the daily operations of a firm must take responsibility for its deeds. Although present corporate practices are indifferent to the environment, human welfare, and health, the documentary emphasizes the significance of reform (The Corporation). There have been case studies, correct acknowledgments, and effective initiatives to reduce harm to the environment and public health.
Advertising for children is another crucial point of the documentary. Kids tend to persistently ask for marketed goods when they are overrun by marketing messages, known as the nag factor. The documentary repeatedly questions the morality of businesses that use extreme advertising for children. This is shown in the film as immoral and aberrant. In order to counter the possible influence on the children, the authors suggest prohibiting the targeting of children (The Corporation). One of the key points of the documentary was that private ownership results in stable resource management. Stronger conservation efforts that are beneficial for the environment will result from this, in turn (The Corporation). Given that businesses’ primary motivating factor is profit, this is a hotly contested topic. Liberal corporate leadership recognized their responsibility for reversing the harm done to the biosphere by their organizations as a result of both internal pressure and external pressure (Anaf et al.). However, no corporation will be concerned about environmental challenges if environmental legislation is not mainstream or the industry is not lucrative.
Corporations provide a number of advantages, including tax breaks, restricted liability, and trust creation. Business owners who have limited liability are not individually responsible for the obligations or liabilities of the company (Anaf et al.). As a result, creditors cannot collect personal property like homes or automobiles. In terms of tax credits, health insurance paid on behalf of the owner-employee is deductible, and because corporate revenue is exempt from social security tax, employees can reduce their self-employment taxes (Bartley). Additionally, it will be simpler for new companies to gain the confidence of the corporation’s staff, partners, clients, and suppliers. Alternative methods are available to obtain these benefits. For instance, a government may provide its people with tax relief.
“The Corporation” is a revelation since it exposes the faults that are concealed from customers. Businesses will market a product as safe and claim it to be such merely because they have the authority to disregard certain rules that control the safety of consumer goods (Anaf et al.). Through the documentary, it becomes clear that the corporate way of doing things prioritizes profits over the future of the company while operating in the present. The documentary makes it abundantly clear that companies are the main source of the issue, particularly in cases where they influence the media to hide the truth by exerting financial pressure. This is one of the key anti-democratic activities highlighted by the documentary. The lobbying and interest group activities of companies in politics harm the creation of public policy and threaten democratic institutions (The Corporation). The honest confessions of business leaders and behind-the-scenes material in the documentary may make the conclusion startling. Additionally, owing to dangerous products, society is at risk of losing even the most fundamental right to life due to the self-centered mentality of the business sector.
Due to their pathological concentration on increasing profit margins at the expense of individual rights, corporations have grown to be a significant concern around the globe. This fact is required to address this issue in order to improve the business world. “The Corporation” shows how business and product sales are personified, and it paints the corporation as a sociopathic creature that would eventually hurt the global population through its business module. Documentaries that support legal fiction forewarn that the ultimate promotion of human rights for business will murder the majority of people shortly. To avert the coercive character of companies before it is too late, a reassessment of their position and rights should be made.
Works Cited
“The Corporation.” YouTube, uploaded by Encore +, 2017.
Anaf, Julia, Matt Fisher, and Frank Baum. “Civil society action against transnational corporations: implications for health promotion.” Health Promotion International vol. 35, no. 4, 2020, pp. 877-887.
Bartley, Tim. “Transnational corporations and global governance.” Annual Review of Sociology vol. 44, no. 1, 2018, pp. 145-165.