Using Social Business to Reshape the Capitalist Economy and Support Environmental Awareness

The third facet, or special interest process, is essentially the entire lobbying scheme in Washington. Lobbying has become such a manipulative and integral part of policy-making that the two now go hand-in-hand. There are lobbying firms from every corner of the country, covering ground across the political-ideological spectrum. With that being said, many of the top lobbying firms present in Washington represent industries with the most money and the most to fight for: the polluter-industrial and pharmaceutical-healthcare industries (Lobbying Spending Database). The best the Obama Administration can do at this point is start to attack the top-spending industries, including pharmaceutical-health, oil, gas, and automotive. There is simply no feasible way to go about weakening the power of lobbyists without prioritizing the largest and most powerful industries at the top. In order to protect the quality of the health of citizens, it seems logical to deal with those responsible for many, if not most, of the causes- those being the industries with no regard for health of its consumers or surrounding communities, for example the asbestos poisoning by Zonolite vermiculite mining in Libby, Montana as shown in the film “A Killer In Town”. But without bold and severe attacks on those with the most influential power in policy-making, Washington can have no hope for power over and against those who stand in the way of comprehensive change in environmental as well as economic sustainability.

Regarding the policy-making process, which the key figures of polluter-industrial companies rule, the result is “the relaxed enforcement of regulations, greatly increased government secrecy…and the suppression and distortion of scientific information whenever it appears at odds with the administration’s goals” (Faber, 2008). This facet ties in closely with the political appointee process; however, it concerns the appointments of “under-the-radar” positions that often have a deeper understanding of the workings of the regulations. President Obama and his administration must work to identify these key players in the most powerful but less public positions in agencies such as the EPA, DOT, and the Departments of Energy and Agriculture. Energy policy is “the linchpin connecting the economy, security, equity and environment (Orr 23)”, so close attention should be given to those in all positions in key agencies that have a say in energy policy in particular. If nothing else these individuals should be indentified and given close attention, to ensure that the behind-the-scenes workings of their respective departments aren’t clashing with the trajectory of Obama’s presidency.

Lastly is the propaganda process, which is highly influential in swaying public opinion in favor of “big spenders” who in numerous ways distribute media to purport their subsistence. Due to the extreme power possessed by certain industries to utilize media influences, as shown for example in the film “Toxic Sludge Is Good For You”, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure objective and professional media outlets are not marginalized. It is not the government’s responsibility to distribute their own “true” propaganda, or to shut down the current process. But if the rules aren’t set to grant opposing media the right to fair recognition, for instance a local news-station covering a story on the efficiency of diesel vehicles, then the Constitution rights to free speech are infringed upon. News must be in a position to objectively report events accurately, regardless of the story’s consequences.  A way the Obama administration could possibly draw attention to this injustice is by seeking objective, thorough journalists to cover stories over which the government has selective control. Or the government could publish user-friendly versions of key policies, so the public has a primary resource for making informed decisions. President Obama had vowed to confront the veil of secrecy that surrounded the government when he was elected to office by broadcasting meetings on public television, so it’s up to him and his administration to deliver.

Necessary to the recovery and restoration of the environment is a comprehensive, trans-disciplinary approach utilizing all strings of society and government, specifically in a two pronged line-of-attack geared at reinventing the definition of business and seizing control from the polluter-industrial complex. Social business generates a shift in capitalist practice to include non-profit maximization as a viable and beneficial alternative to single-track capitalism and stagnant charity organizations. It is a creative idea defined by philanthropic spirit harnessed by the power of the market-which is a system not to be entirely disenfranchised. Impeding the strength of the polluter-industrial complex over the direction of society as a whole is crucial to the advancement of humanity progressing in a way that is sustainable. The crisis cannot and will not be healed overnight, but with progressive and innovative ideas instituted into practice the United States and the world at large can reach a destination of peace, equality, and prosperity that has for too long been merely a visionary ideal.

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"Department of Energy - Dr. Steven Chu." Department of Energy - Homepage. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. .

Faber, Daniel, and Deborah McCarthy. "Introduction: Foundations for Social Change: Critical Perspectives on Philanthropy and Popular Movements." Foundations for Social Change: Critical Perspectives on Philanthropy and Popular Movements. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. 3-24. Print.

Faber, Daniel. Capitalizing on environmental injustice the polluter-industrial complex in the age of globalization. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2008. Print.

"Lobbying Spending Database | OpenSecrets." OpenSecrets.org. Center for Responsive Politics, 2009. Web. 02 Dec. 2009.

Obama, Barack. Inaugural Address. 20 Jan. 2009.

Orr, David W. Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. Print.

"U.S. Department of Labor -- Office of the Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis." The U.S. Department of Labor Home Page. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. .

Yunus, Muhammad. Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. New York: PublicAffairs, 2009. Print.