As we have all heard, corporations are people who wield enormous power. Since the perplexing Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010 granting corporations person-hood, corporations have become the epitome of power.
“Power is the capacity to cause change and influence the degree of actual change in attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors. This means that influence can be measured by the behaviors or attitudes of followers.” (PSU WC PSYCH 485 L. 7). Corporations double down on their power to cause change. They use the power of coercion as a standard practice of business. The power corporations have an effect on others (House, 1984), or have the potential to influence others (Bass, 1990). Additionally, corporations use the influence tactic of exchange with politicians. For example, “A survey of likely 2016 voters,(…)found that 91 percent of Americans endorse strengthening drinking water and air pollution protections, 87 percent want expanded renewable energy development, and 82 percent would like the government to place limits on power plant carbon pollution.” However, corporate power has repeatedly swayed politicians to disregard the wishes of their constituents. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have joined the billionaire Koch brothers to curtail environmental protection laws. (Negin, 2015) What form of power did they succumb to?Moreover, it is no secret politicians, once out of office, receive lucrative consulting and lobbyist jobs. These new careers entail working for the corporations they helped as elected officials. With the exchange method, it is influencing a target (politician) through the exchange of favors (PSU WC PSYCH 485 L. 7). It is a common quid pro quo in politics. As well, corporations like to flex their muscle by using coercive power. If politicians fail to do the corporate bidding, corporations may withhold financial campaign contribution and support the politician’s challenger. This shows the corporation’s ability to control others through the fear of punishment. (PSU WC PSYCH 485 L. 7). This influence can be considered a pressure tactic. Pressure tactic is the threat of loss of salary or reward. (PSU WC PSYCH 485 L. 7).
Jeffery Pfeffers offers the suggestion that to stop abuses of power people need to get more power themselves and more power for other people who will do good things with power. However, he does not mention the two-headed monoliths of government and corporations that currently comfort one another.
References:
• Jeffrey Pfeffer: Power and Influence in the Collaborative Age. (2011, February 18). Retrieved (June 11, 2015) from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXGQqwVb018
• Jayne, B. (n.d.). Lesson 7: Power and Influence. Retrieved June 11, 2015, from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/su15/psych485/001/content/07_lesson/06_page.html
• Negin Elliott, “Industry-Funded Lawmakers Target Public Health and Environmental Protections” www.huffingtonpost.com (6/11/2015) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elliott-negin/industry-funded-lawmakers_b_7556454.html
Marc says
I’m really glad you decided to cover this topic because it sheds light on a very corrupt nuance of our government which is greatly overlooked – my guess is because anyone who would mention the type of corruption are the same ones who benefit. Another reason why I liked your blog is because I’ve always been suspect but never really took the time to read more about this issue. Upon quick glance I’ve found and read a few lengthily articles which discuss the negative aspects of corporations using their money to pave the way for policies which benefit them exponentially.
The First article Fixed Fortunes: Biggest corporate political interest spend billions, get trillions highlights the enormous kickback the government gives in support stating, “Between 2007 and 2012, 200 of America’s most politically active corporations spent a combined $5.8 billion on federal lobbying and campaign contributions… however, that what they gave pales compared to what those same corporations got: $4.4 trillion in federal business and support.” (Allison et al. 2014).
Furthermore another article titled How Big Money Corrupts the Economy discusses why corporations exert their power of influence over politics stating, “the biggest spenders are investing in favorable policy outcomes. Money doesn’t just give big spenders the chance to express a view or support a candidate; it gives them leverage to reshape the American economy in their favor.” (Hacker et al., 2013).
It doesn’t take detailed analysis to discover why the richest 1% are separating exponentially in terms of finance. For staters the richest 1% are also own a significant amount of the corporations which are influencing our “representatives. There’s a famous quote from Mark Hanna stating, “There are two things that are important in politics. The first thing is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.”
There are campaign finance laws and this is an issue which the Supreme Court has dealt with for decades. Unfortunately, those “insistent advocates of the campaign finance laws argue that the benefits are real even if academics can’t measure them.” (Kirkpatrick, 2010)
To tie it all together, power is the capacity to cause change and influence to which many would agree based on logic; however, there is no tangible evidence to stop this power because behaviors and attitudes of those contributors and beneficiaries cant or wont be proven. a
Allison, B., & Harkins, S. (2014, November 17). Fixed Fortunes: Biggest corporate political interests spend billions, get trillions. Retrieved June 14, 2015, from http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2014/11/17/fixed-fortunes-biggest-corporate-political-interests-spend-billions-get-trillions/
Hacker, J., & Loewentheil, N. (2013). How Big Money Corrupts the Economy. Retrieved June 14, 2015, from http://www.democracyjournal.org/27/how-big-money-corrupts-the-economy.php?page=all
Kirkpatric, D. (2010, January 23). Does Corporate Money Lead to Political Corruption? Retrieved June 14, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/weekinreview/24kirkpatrick.html?_r=0