The capitalist system we operate under has never really been about democracy. True leaders within corporations are either born or made, but they are never elected except by a selected few. CEOs are appointed by a board usually in a one-horse race based on their credentials or connections
By David Hovenden
The capitalist system we operate under has never really been about democracy. True leaders within corporations are either born or made, but they are never elected except by a selected few. CEOs are appointed by a board usually in a one-horse race based on their credentials or connections.
The reason for this is simple. They are selected, in the case of publicly listed organisations, to above all else maximise shareholder returns. This may mean they make unpopular decisions and it may come at a great personal cost to many. That’s why they get the big bucks.
Watching ABC’s Four Corners the other night, it occurred to me that there is now a real dichotomy opening up between organisations and the democratically elected governments they operate under. In the program, fairly alarming details were spelt out about the devastating effects global warming will have on the world.
Interestingly, it became evident that within the scientific community, the debate regarding climate change was all but over. Similarly, the business community was climbing on board in a big way, actively talking and, importantly, acting to reduce greenhouse emissions.
The only person really dragging his heels on the issue was our esteemed Prime Minister John Howard, who steadfastly refused to acknowledge that global warming was yet a given.
One of the reasons this became evident was that global warming is an issue that will impact more heavily on our children and our grandchildren. John Howard will be long gone by then. With an election just around the corner, he doesn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. Instead he’ll delay and ignore, even though the evidence is compelling that the longer we do ignore the issue, the more devastating the impact of global warming will be.
I’m not a fatalist by any means and have long been a fervent believer that humanity will find a way out of this mess. We are, after all, a very adaptable species. However, I can’t help but wonder if the environment and its abuse will be the most damning indictment of a flawed democratic system that appears unable to look beyond its next three-year term.
