Friday 25 May 2012

Corrupt Industries



After a chat with friends this week I was slightly surprised how often the word 'corruption' entered the conversation and there was an acceptance that the general public could do nothing to stem the flow.

Everywhere there is corruption, but in 5 industries it's so blatant and deep-seated: Banking, Energy, Agriculture/Biotech, Media and Healthcare.  I've purposely omitted politics because it is enmeshed in all industry.

Let's take banking. Every time a loan is repaid interest (wealth) is transferred from the working class to the ownership class.  Class-ism is built directly into the system.  It's not simply a result of greedy people within the system, it's a reality upon which the entire concept of banking is built.  The solution is credit unions, at least in the short term.  With credit unions there are no shareholders and all revenue from loans is paid to members and employees.  Why do we not have more credit unions?

Now energy.  I won't say much about this as there's been enough on the news in the past 24 hours. We're  paying - or going to pay in the future - for the sins of the ownership class, who regularly increase our utility bills and most of us are their prisoners. My main objection is the green tax added to my monthly bill.  Why don't more protest about it?

Agriculture and biotech have some of the world's largest companies - Monsanto to name but one.  Monsanto introduced GM crops and the 'Terminator Gene' which causes the organism to be sterile and forces the grower to buy new seeds from Monsanto every year.  They've made billions from GMOs and left many in third world countries starving because these people can't afford to be purchasing seeds annually.  Nature intended that seed was gathered and sown the following year.

I avoid GM foods if I possibly can, but they are never labelled so it can be difficult to identify them. Best to buy local produce if possible.

We all known how corruption flows through media so no need for me to comment.

Healthcare is run by pharmaceutical conglomerates whose aim is to make money. They're not interested in your wellbeing and it's up to all of us to become experts about our own health.  Question everything is what I do these days, although I was brought up with believing that GPs and other medics were gods. One person said to me the other day that the only reason their GP was smarter than them was because he could access the internet more quickly!

I don't willingly give my hard-earned money to companies which I know aren't playing 'fair' but we can all try to free ourselves as much as possible from these corrupt systems. We shouldn't underestimate our individual power.  If nothing else not buying GM foods and questioning any medication prescribed makes me feel I have some control.

Speaking of medication - am I the only person who thinks that, these days, the side effects of any medicine (on these tiny font instruction leaflets) are so similar they're not worth reading?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

In the past week we've been told that we\ll have to pay more for energy, we've been told that free banking shouldn't be free and the message about using water more sparingly is incessant from the BBC (Chelsea Flower Show and Countryfile).

All these increased costs either happening or planned to happen soon.

When and how will it stop? Will the SNPs version, post referendum YES vote, be any different?

There are more questions than answers.

F***W*T TW****R said...

The 'Terminater' gene also has the added benefit of not allowing the gm plant to get into the 'natural' flora. What would you be saying if they didn't have it there?

Key bored warrior. said...

The point being tedioustantrums, when Scotland becomes independent their are no guarantees that the Scottish public will wish the SNP to be the main party. The Scottish voting public will for the first time in 307 years have been given the dignity of controlling their own destiny, and will shape the political landscape they wish, not have it shaped for them. I would like to think that the greens have a lot of the answers we are looking for, but who knows there is lots of water to flow under the bridge before then. Will the corrupt EU survive? Will the Euro survive? Will the Condems survive? Will the Iceland model capture the imagination of the people?

RMcGeddon said...

There's not much we can do about GM foods now. These 'controlled' GM areas are a pointless gesture as pollen travels hundreds of miles over the fence. Note the rapid expansion of GM rape seed plants along every road and motorway verge in the UK. Busily tainting any plants in the area.
Mexico has nearly lost the battle against GM chillies with their ancient species now affected due to mixing with GM species. Some weird and wonderful shapes of plants are now emerging ( frankenstien crops).

A single bank loan is leveraged many times. Bob takes out a £1,000 loan to buy a bike and pays it to the bike shop who puts it in their bank, that loans it out to Sue to buy an ipad at the apple shop which puts it in it's bank which loans it out to.....

Every day we're told to take some medicine to make us healthier. There was aspirin to thin blood and then statins to prevent heart attacks etc. Probably just wanting to clear their stock ( like with the tamiflu toxin they were issuing last year to no effect)

We don't need any more info about green energy to know it's all a scam but that scam keeps on rolling. I expect the govt/ landowners etc can't believe their luck with that scam. Must be going far longer than they ever hoped. The backing of all the parties ( except UKIP ) and the BBC have helped a bit though.
I saw Gryth the comedian on QT last night slagging off wind mills. No more travel shows for him once his latest show is over. He'll join Johnny Ball etc in the sin bin.

Woodsy42 said...

"am I..(on these tiny font instruction leaflets) are so similar they're not worth reading? "

No you're not SR. Basically they all list any conceivable symptom except those being treated - although some manage to include even those.

But I do love the always added warning "keep out of the sight and reach of children" - it doesn't say keep the medicine that way, it's in the instructions to the user. So I do my best to avoid them, noisy demanding things much of the time anyhow.

JRB said...

You list - Banking, Energy, Agriculture/Biotech, Media and Healthcare.

You have effectively described the companies that are the multi-nationals which form the cornerstones of the global economy. They are the ones responsible for the corporate capitalism that has resulted in today’s globalization.

These companies are courted and fawned upon by governments to set-up business in their country. They are granted financial incentives and given legal and political licence to do pretty well as they please. They are put above the law and are answerable to no single national jurisdiction.

Consequently they have no need for integrity or honesty, as we have handed them exactly what they want on a plate.

subrosa said...

For years I fought against these global companies being able to dominate this country TT, but lost the battle.

More questions than answers right enough.

subrosa said...

That's not what I understand from local farmers. FW.

subrosa said...

I think the Icelandic model may be very worth while considering KBW.

subrosa said...

It's all Big Agri, Big Pharma etc now RM and you're right about Gryth.

subrosa said...

I do my best to avoid them too Woodsy but for some people they have little option. Sadly.

subrosa said...

Exactly JRB. When I was active in politics I fought against the pandering given to these Big conglomerates, but lost.

They're part of the reason we have no national industries. Governments have given the perks to the Big boys.

Anonymous said...

In Scotland, the media and criminal justice system look particularly corrupt?

- Aangirfan

Anonymous said...

Hey KBW,

If the greens have even one answer it'll be a wrong one.

As Mel Gibson, the patron saint of faky Scotland says Freedom! That's what we want and we want it now. Greenies don't normally bring much in the way of freedom.

TT

subrosa said...

It looks that way to me Aangirfan but then I haven't had any faith in our justice system for years.

Furor Teutonicus said...

XX
Healthcare is run by pharmaceutical conglomerates whose aim is to make money. XX

Oh NO!!! Someone is making money!

How absolutely EVIL.

subrosa said...

FT, of course you're being facetious. Surely?

Big Pharma are making fortunes by selling their products without providing all test results. It's complex and I could write at length about it but I don't support businesses who earn money through this form of corruption.

Furor Teutonicus said...

It is your complaint (or the complaint in the quote. If it was not YOU that said that I apologise for attaching the blame to the wrong person.), that they are there to make money.

Of COURSE they are there to amke money.

I am HERE to make money. It is called "capatalism", and I LOVE it to pieces.

If you are not happy with the product, don't BUY it.

No one is shoving a shot gun up your bum.

subrosa said...

I have no objection to anyone making money honestly FT. What I do object to is the likes of Big Pharma making money dishonestly by enticing doctors to supply their wares which can kill rather than cure.

Where medication is concerned many people have a blind faith in the medical profession and therefore take prescription drugs without question.

I don't buy it but I'm very fortunate not to have a life threatening disease and taking medication.

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