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The Corporation: the Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power

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The Corporation: the Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power
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English 1A
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October 26, 2012
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The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power
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------------------------------------------------- In today society, the modern corporation according to Joel Bakan, is singularly self-interested, regardless of the harmful consequences it might cause to other. Bakan also stated that the corporation is a "pathological" entity. The so-called pathological personality in humans is well documented and includes serial killers, rapist, and others who have no regard for the life and welfare of anyone but themselves. He begins describing a corporation is an institutional psychopaths that won’t let any obstacles that get into it way. It has fought with considerable success over that last twenty years. He recalls a time that some major American corporation were reaping substantial profits by working for Adolf Hitler. Next he tells what corporations have become over the course of history, and finally what can be done about it. Bakan's argument includes the point that the corporation's sole reason for being is to enhance the profits and power of the corporation. He tells by citing court cases that it is the duty of management to make money and that any compromise with that duty is dereliction of duty.
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------------------------------------------------- Another point is that "corporations are designed to externalize their costs." The corporation is deliberately programmed, indeed legally compelled, to externalize costs without regard for the harm it may cause to people, communities, and the natural environment. Every cost it can unload onto someone else is a benefit to

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