Friday, January 06, 2006
CORPORATIONS ARE PSYCHOPATHS
Joel Bakan tells why he sees big business as "psycho"
By Trisha Cook
A Canadian version of Michael Moore is taking a stab at the problems behind corporations with his new book and documentary.
He recently told a Toronto crowd his diagnosis: they are all literally psychotic.
Joel Bakan is following in Michael Moore’s footsteps while exposing the evils behind the capitalist mindsets of corporations in America.
Michael Moore’s renowned work Bowling for Columbine and books like Dude, Where’s My Country?, have aroused many to take a critical look at the society they are living in, recognize destructive forces and take a stand.
Corporations are psycho
Bakan wants his film The Corporation, and his new book The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, to make people try and change the ways powerful corporations function.
"(The growing interest in such documentaries) has something to do with the idea that people feel that the world is veering off on a dangerous path," said Bakan to a packed hall at the University of Toronto. "Combined with a sense that they are not getting the information they need from the media to understand why."
Bakan, a University of British Columbia law professor and an internationally recognized scholar, spoke to over 200 people on Tuesday night.
Bakan said the turnout was unexpected and greatly appreciated. The unexpected snowstorm did not deter people from attending the free question period with Bakan. He recalled the last time he was in Toronto promoting his film, in January.
"I actually had problems in Toronto with snow before," Bakan joked. "I came to open the film, on January 16 at the Bloor Cinema. There was a lot of snow on that day as well (like the night he was speaking at U of T)- and the roof caved in."
Tough topics to tackle
Bakan tackled the destruction of the environment, globalization and human exploitation. His wit, sincerity and intellect kept the crowd rapt for about two hours.
Bakan described how he concluded that corporations are literally, not metaphorically, psychopaths.
"The other thing in law school I learned about corporations was that corporations are persons. The law actually deems them to be persons and gives them the rights that people have," said Bakan. "If the corporation is a person, well what kind of person is it? Well it’s programmed to be radically, profoundly, psychologically self-interested. And that makes it psychopathic as a person."
Bakan said,the self-serving interests that create corporations and the "Best Interest" law that serves shareholders and allows corporations to kill the environment, exploit children and create sweatshops - legally. Whatever is in the best interest of the corporation, profit-wise, is legal.
article continues(link1) , (link 2)
Toronto Observer
The Corporation film
MEDIA ARTICLES AND LINKS RELATING TO PSYCHOPATHY
Gorilla Bosses Bring Jungle to the Workplace
Corporation as Psychopath
Corporate Crime Reporter
Top 100 Corporate Criminals of the Decade
¶ 19:30 
Joel Bakan tells why he sees big business as "psycho"
By Trisha Cook
A Canadian version of Michael Moore is taking a stab at the problems behind corporations with his new book and documentary.
He recently told a Toronto crowd his diagnosis: they are all literally psychotic.
Joel Bakan is following in Michael Moore’s footsteps while exposing the evils behind the capitalist mindsets of corporations in America.
Michael Moore’s renowned work Bowling for Columbine and books like Dude, Where’s My Country?, have aroused many to take a critical look at the society they are living in, recognize destructive forces and take a stand.
Corporations are psycho
Bakan wants his film The Corporation, and his new book The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, to make people try and change the ways powerful corporations function.
"(The growing interest in such documentaries) has something to do with the idea that people feel that the world is veering off on a dangerous path," said Bakan to a packed hall at the University of Toronto. "Combined with a sense that they are not getting the information they need from the media to understand why."
Bakan, a University of British Columbia law professor and an internationally recognized scholar, spoke to over 200 people on Tuesday night.
Bakan said the turnout was unexpected and greatly appreciated. The unexpected snowstorm did not deter people from attending the free question period with Bakan. He recalled the last time he was in Toronto promoting his film, in January.
"I actually had problems in Toronto with snow before," Bakan joked. "I came to open the film, on January 16 at the Bloor Cinema. There was a lot of snow on that day as well (like the night he was speaking at U of T)- and the roof caved in."
Tough topics to tackle
Bakan tackled the destruction of the environment, globalization and human exploitation. His wit, sincerity and intellect kept the crowd rapt for about two hours.
Bakan described how he concluded that corporations are literally, not metaphorically, psychopaths.
"The other thing in law school I learned about corporations was that corporations are persons. The law actually deems them to be persons and gives them the rights that people have," said Bakan. "If the corporation is a person, well what kind of person is it? Well it’s programmed to be radically, profoundly, psychologically self-interested. And that makes it psychopathic as a person."
Bakan said,the self-serving interests that create corporations and the "Best Interest" law that serves shareholders and allows corporations to kill the environment, exploit children and create sweatshops - legally. Whatever is in the best interest of the corporation, profit-wise, is legal.
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