The Corporation

The Corporation was a pretty interesting documentary. In my opinion, it sought to explain what a firm is really like in the corporate world of America. Clearly, there is a stark difference between the public relations image a firm hand feeds the public, and what actually goes on.

Michael Moore spoke his opinion on corporations. His main point was that although capitalism produces valuable goods and services, the men and women behind the corporate name will do absolutely anything to reach the right "bottom line." It is this unrelenting greed which corrupts the system.

But before any of you gun-toting Bush votes start yelling about the doctrine of fairness, understand that the film also did a good job of introducing guests who were corporate supporters and explaining multiple different aspects of corporations. But still, it's a documentary. They had a message to get across.

The editing of the film was done well. In particular, it didn't put the class to sleep. It had an edgy, youthful feeling with lots of quick cuts and closeups. But it wasn't seizure-inducing like a rap video.

Most shocking was the piece about petrochemical misuse. The film showed graphic photos of mutated animals and people as a result of corporation's negligence. This is simply unacceptable, especially since the study linked corporate actions for the cancer epidemic we now find ourselves in.

In plain English, the movie showed simply how scummy a company can be. It is its own legal entity, rather than the people who make the decisions for it. It showed how this entity completely disregards any sense of ethics or moral judgment, and how the actions of corporate, legal entities have irrevocably harmed the earth and many of its inhabitants. If the chances of getting caught are low enough compared to the monetary return for a particular action, some companies will take actions with unthinkable consequences.

Will the next generation of corporate leaders follow the same path?
It starts with us.