1. CHAPTER 4 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1) In 1933, FDR created the New Deal, aimed to strengthen government's control of what? 2) What American corporation provided the Nazis with tabulation machines used by them to track records in their extermination & slave-labor camps? 3) What was passed by Congress in 1952 to ensure coal mine safety? 4) How did "new social regulation" curb corporations power & freedom? 5) What fuel the political system & are a core strategy in business's campaign to influence government (Look for it. It's in the chapter.)?
7. WHY DO WE (CONSUMERS) SO INFREQUENTLY EXERT OUR POWER?
8. WHY DO WE (CONSUMERS) SO INFREQUENTLY EXERT OUR POWER?
9. CONSUMERISM “ A SOCIAL & ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE THAT IS BASED ON THE SYSTEMATIC CREATION & FOSTERING OF A DESIRE TO PURCHASE GOODS/SERVICES.” *CORPORATIONS MAKE THEIR LARGE PROFITS BY CREATING & FOSTERING A DESIRE FOR CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE MATERIAL ITEMS RATHER THAN NECESSITIES. MATERIALISM: -IN PHILOSOPHY: “THE THEORY THAT PHYSICAL MATTER IS THE ONLY REALITY.” -IN BUSINESS: “THE THEORY THAT WORLDLY POSSESSIONS CONSTITUTE THE GREATEST GOOD & HIGHEST VALUE IN LIFE.”
11. THURSDAY 4/28 -QUIZ #9. -FINISH DISCUSSING THE CORPORATION (CHAPTER 5). -EXAM #2 STUDY GUIDE WILL BE POSTED ON THE BLOG. TUESDAY 5/3 -REVIEW FOR EXAM #2. THURSDAY 5/5 -EXAM #2. MONDAY 5/9 @ 1:00PM IN THIS CLASSROOM -TWIF GROUP PRESENTATIONS.
12. American consumerism has seen a shift away from values of community, spirituality, and integrity, and toward competition, materialism and disconnection.
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14. Capitalism's protagonists and players are the new high priests of our day. Industry and government have become intertwined to the extent that it's hard to tell when one ends and the other begins. But citizens are resisting and protesting their dissent to the centralization of power in corporate hands. The corporation has responded by enacting programs of corporate social responsibility. Are CSR plans just a tactic by corporations in response to consumer pressure?
15. 1) CSR PLANS CAN DELIVER BOTH SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL RETURNS & LONG-TERM SOCIAL BENEFITS. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS BY CORPORATIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO PAY OFF IN THE 2-4 YEAR TIME FRAME THAT PUBLIC COMPANIES USUALLY REQUIRE. THE 4 MYTHS OF CSR 2) THE ETHICAL CONSUMER WILL DRIVE CHANGE. STUDIES SHOW THAT MOST CONSUMERS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH OTHER VARIABLES: PRICE, QUALITY, BRAND.
16. 3) THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE RACE TO THE TOP OVER ETHICS AMONGST BUSINESSES. MANY TIMES BUSINESSES WILL BE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON WELL INTENTIONED EFFORTS WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR. EXAMPLE: DONATING MONEY TO A CHARITY. 4) IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, COUNTRIES WILL COMPETE TO HAVE THE BEST ETHICAL PRACTICES. COMPETITIVE PRESSURE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAS ACTUALLY LED TO GOVERNMENTS LIMITING THEIR INSISTENCE ON STRINGENT CONPLIANCE WITH HUMAN RIGHTS OR ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT.
17. “ THE LAW’S (GOVERNMENT) ABILITY TO PROTECT PEOPLE & THE ENVIRONMENT FROM CORPORATE HARM HAS SUFFERED.” WHY? 1) BUSINESS OPPOSITION TO REGULATION 2) LOBBYING 3) POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS 4) SOPHISTICATED P.R. CAMPAIGNS
18. FDR’S NEW DEAL -PACKAGE OF ECONOMIC PROGRAMS (1933-36) INSTITUTED TO COUNTERACT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION (OCTOBER 1929). -THE MAIN GOALS ARE KNOWN AS THE 3 R’S: 1) RELIEF -UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS (FARMERS). 2) REFORM -BUSINESS & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 3) RECOVERY -THE ECONOMY
19. WHY DID CERTAIN CORPORATE EXECUTIVES OPPOSE FDR’S “NEW DEAL?” 1) AIMED TO REPLACE “INVISIBLE HAND.” -SELF-REGULATING NATURE OF THE MARKET PLACE 2) AIMED TO STRENGTHEN GOV’T CONTROL ON BIG CORPORATIONS. 3) CURBED CORPORATIONS FREEDOMS & POWERS. 4) BELIEVED IT WOULD UNDERMINE AMERICAN CAPITALISM.
