The Conspicuous Corporation : Business, Public Policy, and Representative Democracy

Rating:
Summary: Overwhelming money and power of large corporations they don¿
Review: The main thesis of The Conspicuous Corporation is that large corporations in America, England and other industrialized countries have the money and power to totally control government policy making decisions in their favor; yet, in many cases they fail. Mr. Mitchell then goes on in great detail, and with many footnotes, to show and describe how corporations lose some of these policy battles. He uses as examples past battles from slavery to the Taft Hartley Act, to modern day policy conflicts over clean air and water. The author identifies three main reasons for these defeats: (1) Public outcry, (2) Intense media coverage, and/or (3) In "heroic" effort by a politician, or influential public official. As Mr. Mitchell explores the reasons for public outcry he points out that in America the public in general has a favorable opinion of business. Corporations work hard at keeping public opinion favorable through paid media advertising and influencing politicians to lean favorably toward business interests. However, big business and corporations do not have a monopoly on public opinion. The public can be swayed by sensational headlines or a change of political leadership resulting in the public losing its confidence in business's position on a given policy issue. Intense media coverage can also defeat corporate money and influence policy Issues. Mr. Mitchell points out that if thousands of people are killed and injured in a chemical spill and there is intense media coverage for weeks or months at a time laws can be initiated and passed through the efforts of concerned citizens' groups that are in direct opposition to corporate positions. One of the most entertaining themes of the book is the way that Mr. Mitchell points out that on occasions "heroic" public officials that are generally considered "in the pocket" of corporations and their business advocacy groups may turn against them. These "heroic" public officials can turn against business on certain policy issues because of intense media scrutiny and/or a sixth sense that the public is against business on this one and it could cost them their political jobs. One gets the distinct impression that the author refers to the "heroic" public officials with "tongue in check." In exploring the way business exerts a firm and constant pressure on politicians and public officials, Mr. Mitchell gives a complete and comprehensive description of exactly how "hard money", "soft money", and political action committees (PAC's) work. This tutorial flows smoothly with the main theme and sub issues of the book and allows a reader with even casual knowledge of political party workings to understand the "Goliath" type of influence that business has over the day-to-day decisions made on public policy. Mr. Mitchell introduces the reader to another interesting area of business influence that indirectly influences public policy. He discusses corporate money and favors that individual business leaders use to gain social elevation and continuing personal contact with high government officials and politicians. This takes the form in Britain of Knighthood and peerage, and in the United States of Ambassadorships and special commission appointments. He points out that these accomplishments, of course, translate into public policy discussion access and influence over final decisions. The main theme of this book is that in a representative democracy, unlike a dictatorship or oligarchy, the "certainty" that big business and huge corporations can do as they please and totally control the direction of public policy is not always true. The constantly moving public opinion shaped by media and the new information age creates a small, but deadly, minefield for corporate America. Combine this with the dynamic shifts in political party control, and the basic instinct of politicians of both parties for survival, and you have "uncertainty" as the watchword of Big Business and the organizations that promote Big Business in America and Britain. I enjoyed the book and thought that Mr. Mitchell did an excellent job of laying out his thesis early on. He then backed up his position with empirical as well as factual data. His tables and polling data are clear and easy to read and complement his text. I thought his footnotes were excessive for the average reader with an interest in public policy, but I also received the impression throughout the book that it was written mainly for consumption of other political science academics. All in all The Conspicuous Corporation was a good read and was enlightening for the college student who is interested in the constantly shifting sands of business influence in the world of modern politics.