Upon watching the film, I was stunned, and also obviously uncomfortable with some of the realities brought to light (which we are often sheltered from). Particularly the concept of the tragedy of the commons which is seemingly perpetuated by big corporations in their determination to make profits. I feel somewhat like a cog in the machine of consumerism, that has bought into the reality that corporations create; that I need certain things in order to live my life. Obviously, with the industrial revolution, important innovations were born from this efficiency and drive for the supply of products, but I worry about the price we are paying for convenience. As the film points out, there is devastation and destruction of peoples’ ways of life, our environment, and our health as a consequence of our insatiable need for things (are we the psychopaths?). However, I will say that the profits that corporations make off these goods leans heavily towards the greedy side, as pointed out by the investigation into Nike that the film exemplifies. I agree that we have to have responsibilities as consumers, but what about those who take home the paycheques?
While I agree with some of my classmates that the view of this film was somewhat narrow, and depicted the more demonized side of corporations, I suppose that was the point. Equating corporations with a psychopath was an interesting analogy, and certainly grabs the attention of the film-watcher. However, it made me think about other instances where I have encountered corporations where to me, their existence is not so driven by psychopathic tendencies. Many start-up companies are corporations, with shareholders who are also employees. My cousin’s girlfriend is a part of a tech start-up and the company has chosen for its future goals to never go public. Employees have the opportunity to buy shares in the company, and thus be a part of its decision-making apparatus. Another example is the situation of a municipal corporation. I would think (because I don’t know much about municipal corporations) that in being incorporated, a municipality is doing so to make profits that benefit the township over which it resides, and thus benefits a great deal of people. As well, it is bearing the liability of those who live within its confines so that municipal works that take a great deal of money are not borne completely by individual residents. With this in mind, I guess you could argue that many of the products and services corporations provide do benefit a number of people, but the cost of such a benefit in the case of a municipality to me, is not the same cost as something like the effects of the bovine growth hormone mentioned in the film (or any of the environmental disasters the film highlights).
I like the complexity that you bring to the issue of a corporation as a psychopath. I too feel that there is a difference between small corporations where one person incorporates and large multi national entities. Particularly as I consider incorporating my own practice once out of law school.