I was watching TV earlier and was poked by an ad from Chevron. I've seen more than one version of this TV ad. The suggestion is that -- while this oil company is systematically destroying the earth and its resources, using its politcal clout to prevent the development of ideas and inventions that would save us from the dependence on oil and petroleum products and nuclear energy and such -- that it is actively replenishing the earth after it destroys it and actively developing ideas and inventions that would liberate us from the need for foreign oil.
You know, like the mentality that for every tree that is cut down, a new one is planted. While that sounds nice and responsible, what isn't mentioned is the wildlife that is destroyed in the process and which can never be replaced.
I just saw a piece about Koala Bears. They reside solely in Eucalyptus trees in the eastern side of Australia. The koala bear population was brought perilously close to extinction in the early part of the 20th century by hunters who hunted and killed close to 3 million of them for the furs. What stopped this was President Herbert Hoover, who outlawed the importing of koala bear furs to the United States. Since it was no longer financially rewarding, the koala bears were left alone, and that saved them. Until corporations decided they needed the land the eucalyptus trees are on, and they are mowing them down. Right now the koala bear population is down to about 40,000. Most of them live in captivity.
A story like this could be told of many animals. The orangutan, the rhinosaurus, the elephants... the list goes on an on. Look at the Amazon and the devastation going on there... and this provides the earth with a huge percentage of its ozygen and CO2.
Adding to this is the law put into effect that allows corporations to contribute to political campagins as an "individual." Piggy-backed with the protection of their profits by the tax relief given to them. Why, in this current economic stress, even the mere hint that their taxes be raised and the write offs they are allowed be diminished is met with screams that we are threatening the American Dream!!! They are the sacred cow of the United States' politcal right.
What about the American Dream that every child receive a meaningful education? What about the American Dream that anyone can start up a small business and thrive? What about the American Dream that everyone can have their own home? What about the American Dream that when you have lived your life and need to retire, that the country where you live has a plan for you and allows you to live the last days of your life in dignity? What about the American Dream that it takes a village to raise a child?
The middle class is being eradicated slowly but surely. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer and the American Dream is dying for anyone whose dream doesn't include multiconglomerates.
Meanwhile corporations like Comcast are gobbling up companies left and right and there is no mention of antitrust law violations or monopolies. Oil companies are making ads and so are chemical companies that make it sound like they are the caretakers and lovers of this planet.... yet it is scary to see how all of its resources are diminishing at an alarming rate. Pretty soon any viable company will no longer stand on its own but will be a part of the corporation machine.
For instance: They are creating medications for the aged and their diminishing bodies that have exorbitant costs -- for instance, my mother has a pill she has to take once a day, that a 30-day supply costs $600. SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS. She is almost 90 and has Social Security as her income, plus a small income from royalties. And these corporations justify themselves for these exorbitant prices by saying, well, it took us years to develop it! It cost a fortune to develop it! We have to recoup our investment!!!!!
The corporations are international. Though it seems they are part of the USA, their reach is much broader than that. Borderlines are merely for looks. Since they are now "individuals" they can fund all lawmaking to protect their profits and their bonuses and prevent them from being regulated and thereby responsible for their mistakes that affect the economy of the entire world.
Since this is my first entry of my blog, I realize it is not well structured, or maybe it even doesn't come to a conclusion... however, I just felt the need to say something!!
